State Rep. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, has endured his share of controversy. But these days, he is seen by many as a symbol of redemption. So Rouson says he has no right casting aspersions on his new legislative intern -- Barry S. Edwards.

Edwards emerged as a news story during the Giuliani campaign in Florida last year when he resigned after reports surfaced about him allegedly pressuring a student of his at FSU to cruise for prostitutes, watch porn and masturbate. Edwards said the claims were lies but was fired as an adjunct political science professor.

He was also arrested on charges of stealing least $10,000 worth of computer equipment from legislative offices.

A consultant during Rouson's campaign, Edwards has been in
Tallahassee this week helping out. On Tuesday, he was sitting at a desk
answering phones while Rouson's aide was running an errand. He
described himself as an intern, then said he was an unpaid volunteer.
(Indeed, his name does not appear on the state payroll.)

"I don't see what
the obsession is with something more than a decade ago," Edwards said,
referring to the 1988 allegations.

Rouson said Wednesday he's seen the stories about Edwards. But he
dismissed them as old news and said Edwards has been a tremendous help.

"I'm the last kind of guy who would punish someone who made a mistake
in life," Rouson said.

-- Alex Leary and Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler