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The Brevard County Republican’s name first surfaced as a candidate months ago, along with a DeSantis endorsement. But the FAU search took an unusual turn amid allegations of improper procedures and questions that triggered a probe by the inspector general for the state university system.

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Fine was not named as a finalist for the job as all this was unwinding. But this week, after Fine flipped his endorsement for president from DeSantis to Trump, the governor suggested to reporters that Fine’s rejection by FAU’s search committee may have contributed to his displeasure. (Fine insisted his endorsement was because DeSantis has not done enough to confront antisemitism in the state.)

Fine, never one to avoid a dustup, responded by saying that, yes, he applied for the FAU job but only after the DeSantis administration asked him to. And even then, he said he was reluctant and waited a month before agreeing to it.

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“I’m angry that I stupidly said I would do it,” he said. “I’m not angry it didn’t work out. It dragged out and there was a lot of publicity around it. The governor couldn’t get his own board of trustees to do what he wanted. Good luck with the Mullahs of Iran.”

A senior official close to the governor disputed this.

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“Randy and multiple intermediaries went to the governor’s office begging to get him the FAU job. They agreed to help but it’s no secret that the Board of Trustees wouldn’t even consider him. Leadership and everyone was eager to be rid of him in the Legislature,” the official, who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak, said.

Andrew Romeo, the communications director for DeSantis’ presidential campaign, said in response to Fine’s comments that “just a few months ago he was tweeting how Ron DeSantis was the most pro-Israel governor in Florida history, so I think that tell you all need to know about the truth and motivation of his current statements.”

Asked why he didn’t express his sentiments earlier, Fine replied: “I was just a good soldier. I’m generally a loyal guy. Today gives me no joy. I’m not someone who thinks I got revenge.”

— Gary Fineout, Andrew Atterbury, Kimberly Leonard

Original report here

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