STATE OF FLORIDA Office of the Governor THE CAPITOL TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0001 www: flgov.com Row DESayTis 850-717-9418 GOVERNOR January 14, 2022 The Honorable Melissa W. Nelson State Attomey for the Fourth Judicial Circuit 311 West Monroe Street Jacksonville, FL 32202-4242 RE: — Request for Executive Assignment for Ben Frazier; CCR 2002-0006528 Dear Ms. Nelson: ‘The Governor's Office has received your request for reassignment, dated January 6, 2022. As you are aware, the alleged criminal activity occurred due to an event organized by this Office. Because staff members of this Office were directly involved in the circumstances and underlying facts necessary to support the arrest, we have concerns that the ends of justice would not be best served if this Office were to select which state attorney should investigate ot prosecute this matter. Therefore, this Office declines to exercise its discretion to reassign the ‘matter to another state attorney. ely, poy Ryah Newman General Counsel