Florida Rep. Fabian Basabe Found Liable for Sexual Harassment; Democrats Demand Resignation

A Tallahassee civil jury ordered Republican state Rep. Fabian Basabe to pay $450,000 in damages to former staffers Nicolas Frevola and Jacob Cutbirth after finding him liable for sexual harassment and related misconduct. Following the verdict, Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried called for Basabe’s immediate resignation, stating that his conduct “has no business holding public office for another day.”

The Advocate

The allegations first appeared in a 2023 civil lawsuit filed by the two former aides. The Florida House of Representatives conducted two internal investigations, each concluding that there was insufficient evidence to discipline Basabe. Despite those findings, the civil trial proceeded, and the jury’s decision addressed multiple incidents described by the plaintiffs’ attorney.

The Advocate

Democratic leaders framed the verdict as a decisive rebuke of Basabe’s behavior and of any perceived cover-up by House leadership. Basabe, who represented himself at trial, issued a statement expressing regret for self-representation and asserting his belief in “truth matters” while maintaining his personal confidence. The House’s prior investigations were cited by Republican officials as evidence that the matter had already been examined without substantiation.

The Advocate

Attorney Cindy Myers, representing Frevola and Cutbirth, said the jury’s findings vindicated the men and detailed a series of alleged assaults, including slapping, groping, and inappropriate sexual comments made in public and private settings. Democratic officials used the verdict to argue that Basabe’s continued presence in the legislature undermines public trust and fuels broader concerns about misconduct in Tallahassee.

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• “Representative Basabe’s behavior is disgusting, and I am disturbed that the Republican leadership in the House engaged in a cover-up to shield Representative Basabe from the consequences of his actions. Representative Basabe has no business holding public office for another day, he must resign immediately,” — Nikki Fried, Chair, Florida Democratic Party

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• “I chose to defend myself because I am still naïve enough to believe that truth matters, that an ordinary citizen can stand in court, defend himself, and be judged on the facts.” — Fabian Basabe, Representative

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• “The jury found Mr. Basabe guilty of defaming Nick, of battering Nick by slapping him across the face on January 3rd at The Southern Group, of slapping him on his rear and whispering in his ear ‘I want all of that butt’ while they were standing in the back of a classroom full of elementary school children, and sexually harassing him on multiple occasions,” — Cindy Myers, Attorney for Cutbirth and Frevola

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• “The jury also found Mr. Basabe guilty of groping and trying to kiss Mr. Cutbirth the night that Mr. Cutbirth, after promising Mr. Frevola that he’d get Mr. Basabe safely back to his hotel room, did exactly that, drove him to his hotel. And the jury found Mr. Basabe guilty of telling Mr. Cutbirth to flirt with him more when Mr. Basabe was in the office, to act like ‘eye candy’ in front of members of the Miami Chamber of Commerce visiting Mr. Basabe’s office, of asking him how big his genitals were, of encouraging him to break off his engagement with his wife to have sex with Mr. Basabe and other men for sport, and more inappropriate sexually harassing statements.” — Cindy Myers, Attorney for Cutbirth and Frevola

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