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Rick Scott seeks extension to disclose personal finances

He had until May 15 but now could take until July 29.
MONICA HERNDON   |   Times
Republican Governor Rick Scott talks with supporters after announcing his run for Senate on April 9, 2018 at ODC Construction in Orlando, Fla.
MONICA HERNDON | Times Republican Governor Rick Scott talks with supporters after announcing his run for Senate on April 9, 2018 at ODC Construction in Orlando, Fla.
Published April 25, 2018|Updated April 25, 2018

WASHINGTON – Gov. Rick Scott will not be detailing his personal finances any time soon after the U.S. Senate candidate on Tuesday filed for an extension.

"Rick Scott requested an extension of time for filing the annual Public Financial Disclosure Report. The report was originally due on May 15, 2018," reads a page on the Senate financial disclosure website.

"Pursuant to section 101(g) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, as amended, a 75-day extension was granted and the new due date for the report is no later than July 29, 2018."

Scott spokesman Ryan Patmintra said, "As always, we're complying with all of the necessary rules and deadlines.  We will keep you posted on when it's filed."

Democrats have been pressing Scott to disclose his vast wealth and suggest he's trying to hide something.

“Rick Scott could not make it any clearer — he doesn’t want the public to know how he’s used his position as governor to enrich himself at Floridians’ expense, so he’s trying to hide his conflicts of interest and financial entanglements as long as possible,” said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Sebastian Kitchen. “Even as his self-serving politics cost Florida jobs, driven wages to the bottom of the nation and increased health care costs for middle-class families, Scott’s manipulated the system to make himself $46 million richer — and now he’s trying to cover it up.”

As we've reported the Senate has significantly tighter financial disclosure requirements than Florida.

Assets in the name of First Lady Ann Scott, for instance, are not required to be disclosed under Florida's blind trust law, but would be for a U.S. Senate candidate or senator.

Likewise, Scott no longer would be allowed to use a longtime business associate and partner to manage his blind trust because the Senate requires a "completely independent" trustee.