Source in Orlando Sentinel article says outlet used comments out of context as ‘political attack’

ORLANDO, Fla. (FLV) – A source who was cited in an Orlando Sentinel article claimed the outlet used his comments out of context as a “political attack” against Rep. Carolina Amesty.

The article claimed Amesty left a “trail of falsehoods” and unpaid taxes. She has also served as executive vice president of Central Christian University in Orlando.

About one third of the way through the article, the reporters said a document sent to the state claimed four people were listed as working for the university when they were not actually employed. It continued to say that those documents listed Amesty as the contact person.

Central Christian’s list of faculty sent to the state included the names and academic credentials of 10 professors. But three people on that list told the Sentinel that, while they spoke with Amesty about possible positions and provided her resumes, they were not hired.

Scot Hamilton, who has taught psychology at colleges and a South Florida high school, said it was “galling” that his name and academic credentials, which include a degree from Georgetown University, were included on the document sent to the state.

Orlando Sentinel article

Scot Hamilton, one of those three interviewed in the article, said his comments were not appropriately used.

“There was nothing nefarious about this,” Hamilton told Florida’s Voice. “It was part of a legitimate approval process. I have no doubt that CCU earnestly wanted me to be a part of a nascent, licensed Psychology department.”

Central Christian University backed up Hamilton’s claims, saying that the forms being referred to in the article is a method that most if not all institutions practice, especially when first being licensed. It’s used to secure “potential candidates that have the credentials to teach the course offerings,” according to the university.

The article continued to say it asked the Commission for Independent Education “whether it would take action against the university for providing false information.”

However, communication documents with the Florida Department of Education also showed those listed on the form is not “a guarantee of employment.”

“Ms. Postal [the reporter] showed me a document the school submitted to the state containing my name and that of other professors. She asked me if I was an employee of CCU and I explained to her that while I underwent a background check process to join the university in 2021, nothing ever came of it,” Hamilton explained.

Florida’s Voice reached out to the Orlando Sentinel reporters about Hamilton’s statement Wednesday morning but did not receive a response.

I am not the least bit surprised that The Sentinel’s partisan hack job fell apart this quickly. Not only have they deceived their readers, their so-called ‘education reporters’ appear to be utterly clueless as to the state’s education processes and standards. Their desperation is only rivaled by how low they have sunk to smear my family in order to personally attack me. If they had any class, they would be ashamed of themselves. They should immediately retract this story and spare themselves any additional embarrassment before I refer this matter to legal counsel.

Rep. Carolina Amesty

Hamilton continued to explain that his “galling” quote was not used in the proper context.

The Sentinel wrote that Hamilton called it “galling” that his name and academic credentials were included on a document sent to the state, but Hamilton said he was describing the hiring process as “galling.”

“The Sentinel appears to have taken my quote — describing the laborious bureaucratic hiring process as ‘galling’ — out of context to use as a political attack against Ms. Amesty, which was not my intention,” Hamilton said.

“I do not believe that CCU intentionally did anything wrong. They have acted in good faith in their interactions with me. I believe this article is mistaken and I have asked the Sentinel to retract my quote from their story and hope they clarify the situation to their readers,” he explained.