Pam Bondi doesn’t want O.J. Simpson moving to Florida

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi does not want O.J. Simpson to return to the Sunshine State once he’s released from prison.

Bondi said the former football star would burden local law enforcement and could risk the safety of Floridians.

“Floridians are well aware of Mr. Simpson’s background, his wanton disregard for the lives of others, and of his scofflaw attitude with respect to the heinous acts for which he has been found civilly liable,” she said in a statement. “The specter of his residing in Florida should not be an option. Numerous law enforcement officials in Florida agree with this position. Our state should not become a country club for this convicted criminal.”

Simpson, 70, is set to end a 9-year prison sentence related to a Las Vegas armed robbery as early as Monday. He was granted parole in a July hearing, during which he said he planned to live in Florida upon re-entry into civilian life.

On Friday, Bondi sent a three-page letter to Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Julie L. Jones saying the state objects to granting Simpson permission to relocate to Florida.

In the letter, she details Simpson’s “disturbing history of arrests and destructive behavior,” including him pleading no contest to spousal battery charges in 1989, which occurred, “prior to causing the gruesome deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1994.” Simpson was acquitted of the killings.

Bondi cited a state law she said allows Florida to deny relocation permission to out-of-state parolees. She said if the state corrections department finds Simpson is allowed to relocate then he should be subject to the “most stringent and secure conditions of supervision.”

His parole, she said, should include a ban on alcohol and drugs, restricted travel, electronic monitoring and reporting to a parole officer in person.

Simpson’s attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, took to Twitter on Saturday to respond to Bondi’s statement.

Simpson said in July he plans to live with friend Tom Scotto. Bondi’s letter said, “reportedly, (Simpson) intends or has requested permission to relocate to Florida.” The state corrections department said Wednesday it had not received the necessary paperwork from Simpson.

Source: usatoday.com