The most controversial figure in kickboxing history continues to jab at Florida’s Governor and the Attorney General he recently appointed.

“Why hasn’t Ron or his homosexual AG arrested me yet? Struggling to find probable cause? Ran your mouth like clowns but can’t do anything? Uh oh. COURT. OF. LAW. Innocent until PROVEN guilty. This is America not Romania. I dare you to arrest me,” tweeted Andrew Tate about Gov. Ron DeSantis and AG James Uthmeier on Thursday.

That tweet was later deleted but was only the first in a series of statements. Tate said he’s back in Miami and that if he’s arrested and charged, he could “clear (his) name in a USA court of law once and for all.”

“They can’t even find enough to arrest me just ran their mouth like circus clowns. It’s win win for me because I’m innocent. I dare you to arrest me, (DeSantis). I’m here in your state. My bags packed for jail and I am waiting patiently,” he said.

Tate then mocked DeSantis’ stature and preference for height-enhancing footwear: “When Ron DeSantis puts on his booster shoes to threaten you… But you stand there. UNFAZED!” Tate posted alongside an image of him staring at the camera.

DeSantis and Uthmeier have not responded to recent provocations from Andrew Tate or his brother Tristan.

DeSantis said last week they were not “welcome” in Florida, leading to Uthmeier launching a criminal probe on the two. While the Tates have been accused of human trafficking in Romania, they have not been convicted.

And it’s uncertain what Florida can convict them of at the moment, leading to the Tate brothers’ defiance.

“We’re never going to bring any case without evidence to back it up. You have that commitment from me. It seems like they’ve done some pretty gross things in other countries. I don’t have jurisdiction there, but if there’s evidence that they committed a crime in Florida, we will pursue that further,” Uthmeier vowed on Monday.

Uthmeier, who was appointed to replace Ashley Moody earlier this year, has spoken at length about his moral issues with degrading comments the Tates have made about women.

“They’ve gone public, you know, joking around saying, ‘Oh, what is the age of consent in America: 15, 16, 17, oh, we can’t remember.’ That’s absurd. That is horrific. And anybody that’s going to defend, you know, that practice is on the wrong side of me, that’s for sure. If you are soliciting and trafficking minors in our state, you belong in the dark, cold back of a jail cell,” he said.

However, Andrew Tate believes he and his movement are the future, and that of Uthmeier and DeSantis are the past.

“In 10 years, they’re the Governors. They’re no longer Ron DeSantis. No longer Byron Donalds, no longer their little girlfriend, AG. All those f****** losers are gone. My fans are the government, my fans are the f****** President. That’s their problem, because they’re all growing up now. They’re all 16, 17, 18 years old. That’s why they’re scared,” Tate said earlier this week.

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The House Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee advanced a bill that seeks to permit electronic communications for landlords.

Deltona Republican Rep. Tiffany Esposito filed the measure (HB 615) that would allow property owners to notify their tenants through electronic means.

While the legislation seeks to move rental market communications into the modern era, it was met with questions from committee members concerning whether tenants would be declined a rental if they don’t choose to opt in, or when a notice period would begin if an eviction notice was delivered via email.

Esposito said she would be open to having discussions with committee members around clarifying some of the language and ensure that less tech-savvy tenants would still be able to get communications from their landlords.

“We’re trying to give both tenants and landlords options for communications preferences, because we currently have a similar issue with printed notices,” Esposito said. “If a printed notice is left, or an emailed notice is sent, the timelines still apply, and we have the same problem. So, it’s up to the tenant whether they want to opt in to electronic delivery or not.”

North Miami Democratic Rep. Dotie Joseph had procedural concerns around the bill and if there could be provisions made that would allow electronic notices to have an acknowledgement that the notice has been received.

Jackson Oberlink, representing Florida Rising, opposed the bill and told the committee that it would put certain tenants at a disadvantage if it was passed without certain amendments first being made.

“While I appreciate that the intent of this bill is to modernize landlord-tenant communication, this bill as written creates an imbalance that disproportionately harms tenants,” Oberlink said.

“We hope to work with the sponsor to improve it and urge you to consider amendments that ensure fairness and electronic notices. The bill allows landlords to send eviction and security deposit claims via email but does not grant tenants the same right.”

Oberlink noted that states such as Nebraska and Oregon allow both parties to use email for official notices and said it is a policy that Florida should adopt as well. Other states also include opt-out options to safeguard vulnerable renters. Oberlink noted that an amendment should be included that requires the use of email services that confirm the notice has been received.

“Tenants may feel pressured to consent to email delivery as a condition of them securing housing. Oregon requires email agreements be signed after a lease begins, allowing informed consent,” Oberlink said. “Florida should adopt a similar safeguard. These are practical amendments that uphold the bill’s goal of modernizing communication while preventing wrongful evictions and financial harm to tenants.”

Jonathan Webber, Policy Director with the Southern Poverty Law Center, opposed the bill and said emails should not be used for something as important as an eviction notice.

“I urge you to vote ‘no’ on this bill. Our primary concern lies with the email communication provision,” Webber said.

“Email should never be the sole method for delivering a notice as serious or life-altering as an eviction. … We’re also concerned that the email opt-in, the addendum itself, could easily get lost in the overall rental agreement moment. Lease agreements are notoriously long and complicated. New tenants are often overwhelmed with paperwork and logistics on move in day. Choosing the right email for eviction notices is not likely to be on top of mind at that moment.”

Webber noted that tenants could become victims of scammers.

“This provision could make vulnerable renters an easy target for bad actors, or conversely, email is so tainted with scammers, that a tenant may see a real email from their landlord and not trust that it’s authentic. While I support going paperless whenever possible, some communications are simply important to rely on email alone, even if one signs the addendum.”

Port Charlotte Republican Rep. Danny Nix supported the bill and offered a different point of view as a former property management company owner.

“As a Realtor, as well as someone who owned a property management company and sold it, I want to thank you for bringing this bill,” Nix said.

“I cannot agree more that renters need rights. But what I will tell you is, owners need rights as well. They’re the ones that are taking their … capital and putting it into properties to allow individuals to have a place to live. Currently in this market, you’ll see they’re exactly right, there is no opt-in or opt-out. It’s, ‘I want you to do this, or I’ll rent it to someone else.’ And that’s a private property right.”

Ultimately, the committee passed the bill by a vote of 12-4, and it will now go before the Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee.

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