State Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, D-Plantation, announced on Thursday that she was working with law enforcement after being sexually harassed and extorted.
Florida Politics reported that the Broward County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jeremy Hugo Kampervee for threatening and harassing Book.
Book thanked law enforcement and colleagues from both sides of the aisle, including state Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Tribly, for their help.
“Three weeks ago, I became the victim of ongoing cyber threats, sexual harassment, and extortion,” Book said. “I immediately notified law enforcement and began working closely with them to track those responsible for sending threatening and disturbing images and messages to my phone, including distorted, fake and stolen images created in an effort to intimidate, threaten, and extort me. My family and I are most grateful to law enforcement for their swift action resulting in the apprehension of one suspect. However, the investigation is active and ongoing to ensure that other individuals that could be behind these serious criminal acts that are targeting me are apprehended and brought to justice.
“I want to thank my Senate family, Democratic caucus, and the Senate president for maintaining my privacy and supporting me throughout this process. Law enforcement made clear they needed the investigation to remain private and I invoked Marsy’s Law to protect my identity as a victim as provided in Florida’s Constitution. Sadly, the application of Marsy’s Law has weaknesses as the ongoing investigation was released and my identity was revealed. While I have dedicated my entire life to public service and have never shied away from speaking publicly about personal and private matters, I am now asking for the respect of privacy for myself, my family — including my two very young children — and for the safety of agents involved in this ongoing case,” Book added.
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