DeSantis suspends Patty Cummings from Cape Coral City Council position following arrest

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Patty Cummings Thursday from her position as a Cape Coral city councilwoman.

Cummings was arrested this week and faces three felony charges as part of an investigation by the state attorney’s office.

Florida State Attorney Amira Fox announced three charges including Fraudulent Application for Driver License and two counts of False Swearing in Connection with or Arising Out of Voting or Elections.

The governor’s executive order stated that the Florida Constitution allows by order of the governor that any elected municipal officer indicted for a crime may be suspended from office until acquitted. The governor can also suspend an elected municipal officer who faces a felony.

Cummings turned herself in at the Lee County Jail Tuesday afternoon.

The warrant reads: 

1. On or about May 9, 2022 in Lee County, Florida, did unlawfully and knowingly make a false statement, knowingly conceal a material fact, or otherwise commit a fraud in an application for a driver license or identification card, contrary to Florida Statute 322.212(5)(a)

2. On or about June 14, 2022 in Lee County, Florida, did unlawfully and willfully swear or affirm falsely to an oath or affirmation in connection with or arising out of voting or elections, contrary to Florida Statute 104.011(1)

3. On or about November 18, 2022 in Lee County, Florida, did unlawfully and willfully swear or affirm falsely to an oath or affirmation in connection with or arising out of voting or elections, contrary to Florida Statute 104.011(1)

State Attorney Amira Fox’s office

The Cape Coral City Council voted 7-1 in June for the state attorney’s office to investigate fraud claims against Cummings.

Cummings was the only member to vote against the motion in June.

The vote to have the state attorney’s office look into the allegations came after an investigation by the city council.

The City of Cape Coral had hired Vicki Sproat to conduct an independent investigation into Cummings, following a complaint sent to the governor’s office and Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle.

That investigation concluded that although Cummings listed her Palm Tree Boulevard address as her residence when running for the city council seat, she had not “ever intended” to live there during the “relevant period.”

The report claimed that she did not live in District 4, the seat she held, until March 22, 2023. Instead, she had been living at a residency in District 2.

Cummings had reportedly labeled the investigation brought onto her as a “witch hunt that is politically motivated.”