Last Friday former Tallahassee mayor and former Florida Gubernatorial candidate, Andrew Gillum was found heavily intoxicated and excessively vomiting in a Miami hotel room. But, that wasn’t the scandalous part. In the hotel room with Gillum was Travis Dyson, who is believed to have overdosed on Meth. Oof!
The timeline of the events that led to Gillum to be drunk in a hotel room with a man who OD’d on meth is equally as bazaar:
•Time unknown: 56-year-old Aldo Mejias lends Dyson his credit card to rent the hotel room.
•Thurs, 6 p.m.: Dyson and Gillum arrive at the hotel room
•Thurs, 11 p.m.: Mejias returns to the room to find Dyson barely breathing, Gillum unresponsive and vomiting, “I was seeing very shallow breathing [from Dyson]. The other guy [Gillum] was passed out on the floor, throwing up.”
•Fri, 12a.m.: Miami Beach police and paramedics arrive at the hotel room. A police report confirmed Gillum was present in the room. Officers found three bags of what is suspected of being crystal meth on the hotel room bed and floor.
Gillum was not arrested or held for questioning, and “the incident is not being investigated as a criminal matter”, according to a police department spokesman.
In a statement, Gillum said he was in Miami for a wedding, admits to drinking “too much”, but asserted that he has “never used methamphetamines”.
“I’m thankful to the incredible Miami Beach EMS team for their efforts. I will spend the next few weeks with my family and appreciate privacy during this time.”
“I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement. I’m thankful to the incredible Miami Beach EMS team for their efforts. I will spend the next few weeks with my family and appreciate privacy during this time.”
— David Smiley (@NewsbySmiley) March 13, 2020
Dyson has denied any knowledge of a wedding, telling told The Miami New Times, “I personally was not celebrating a wedding. I don’t know if Gillum was in town for a wedding. He did not mention that.”
On Sunday, Gillum announced he was entering rehab for alcohol abuse. ”Since my race for governor ended, I fell into a depression that has led to alcohol abuse.” He pledged to work to “heal fully and show up in the world as a more complete person,” and will be stepping back from “all public facing roles.”
“I want to apologize to my family, friends and the people of Florida who have supported me and put their faith in me over the years.”
According to reports, Dyson is a known male escort. His involvement with Gillum prior to this incident is unknown, though Dyson claims they have been “friends for a while”.
Prior to this incident, Gillum was a rising star in the democratic party. He came within inches of beating out Ron DeSantis in the 2018 Florida Governer’s election, was considered a contender for democratic vice presidency in this year’s national election.
Additional reporting by Tasha Jacobs.
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