Multiple X accounts were suddenly deactivated after allegations they were tied to Layla Collins, wife of Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. As an added layer of intrigue, many of the accusations came from prominent veterans of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ communications team.
Christina Pushaw, a communications specialist in the Governor’s Office, and Jeremy Redfern, Deputy Chief of Staff to Attorney General James Uthmeier, both pointed at online sleuthing tying accounts to the Second Lady.
Pushaw shared info first posted by Promota CEO Robert Salvador that showed the account @FSUdude01670 appeared connected to a phone number similar to a known number and email used by Layla Collins.
Florida Politics obtained screenshots verifying this through two-factor authentication, which can be triggered when an individual tries to gain access to an account without the preset password, or if the social platform deems that password has been compromised.
In this case, screenshots showed that an attempt to gain access triggered a message to an email address with letters starred out and to a phone number with only the last digits showing.
“One would think that a member of a very important state board (she was appointed by the same governor she’s now calling a coward) would be too busy to maintain and post on these burner accounts so much. But one might be surprised,” Pushaw posted.
Pushaw also identified a second account, @bobnamy1, that she said also appeared tied to Layla Collins. On her own X account, Pushaw said it was not only the communication ties, but the content that suggested the account existed entirely to advance Jay Collins’ political ambitions as he runs for Governor.
“Account content is entirely comprised of two types of posts: Promoting Jay Collins, and attacking people who didn’t endorse Jay, including the governor,” Pushaw posted. “A regular supporter of Jay Collins is probably not going to be talking trash about the governor like that.”
Redfern also joined in with criticism.
“The thing here is that it’s not BS. The FSUDude account was tied directly to her personal cell phone number,” he posted.
Perhaps most telling, after Pushaw and Redfern leveled criticisms publicly, both accounts were deactivated.
Florida Politics has requested comments from Jay and Layla Collins.
Notably, both Pushaw and Redfern have previously served as Press Secretaries for DeSantis. Redfern now works for Uthmeier, who has endorsed U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds for Governor.
DeSantis appointed Jay Collins as Lieutenant Governor last year, seemingly helping the former state Senator develop a statewide profile to run for Governor. But DeSantis has declined to endorse a preferred successor in the Governor’s race. DeSantis cannot seek a third term because of term limits.
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