Tuesday, August 28, 2007

"They will still have an impact on public opinion," said T. Wayne Bailey, a political-science professor at Stetson University in DeLand.

Allen, R-Merritt Island, is accused of agreeing to pay $20 to perform oral sex on an undercover police officer July 11 in a public-park restroom.

In the taped statement that was tossed out Monday, Allen said he was just playing along because he was intimidated by the undercover officer, who he described as a "stocky black guy," and that he thought he was going to be robbed.

The comments prompted outrage among civil-rights groups and calls for his resignation. Since then, House Speaker Marco Rubio stripped Allen of his legislative committee appointments, saying he could "no longer effectively serve the people" of his district.

[...]

Hotusing said he would rule later on whether to allow the jury to hear two other statements Allen allegedly gave to police.

When Allen was being placed in a marked patrol car after his arrest outside Veteran's Memorial Park, he asked whether it "would help" if he was a state legislator, according to a police report.

The officer said he replied, "No."

Police also said Allen indicated he had $800 in his car.

Allen's attorney, Greg Eisenmenger, said both remarks should be suppressed because Allen had not been read his Miranda rights by the arresting officer.

But Whitaker argued they were made voluntarily and should be admissible.