Former COVID data manager Rebekah Jones has lost her legal battle to be reinstated in her position at the Department of Health (DOH) and will not receive back pay. Judge Angela C. Dempsey ruled that Jones did not qualify for whistleblower protections as she participated in publishing misleading COVID data. This decision marks another legal defeat for Jones, who previously admitted to illegally accessing Florida’s computer system.
Jones, who was named Forbes’ 2020 Technology Person of the Year, has faced multiple legal issues since her firing in 2020, including cyberstalking charges and her son’s arrest for threatening to carry out a school shooting. Despite these challenges, Jones has continued to raise funds and maintain her status as a whistleblower.
Dempsey’s order highlighted testimony that revealed Jones had published unauthorized COVID data without DOH approval, leading to her termination for insubordination in May 2020. Despite allegations that she was asked to falsify COVID positivity rates, Dempsey found no evidence of data manipulation. The ruling also dismissed claims that Jones’ First Amendment rights were violated by her termination.
Overall, the legal battle between Rebekah Jones and the Department of Health has ended with a victory for the state, emphasizing the importance of following protocols and maintaining data integrity during a public health crisis.
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