ORLANDO, Fla. – Republican State Rep. Rachel Plakon of Seminole County joined Attorney General James Uthmeier at a Tuesday press conference in Orlando to promote legislation that would tighten residency and employment restrictions for people convicted of sex offenses.
Plakon has a bill lawmakers say would restrict where some convicted sex offenders can live and work; supporters argued the measure would better protect children, while critics said it could create unfair or ineffective restrictions.
In the press conference, Uthmeier announced charges against a Sanford man accused of possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material.
[BELOW: Disturbing discoveries at Sanford home revealed by Florida attorney general]
During the press conference, Uthmeier paused to scold Orlando State Rep. Anna Eskamani for how she voted on Plankon’s bill.
“I do have to point out that your local representative, Anna Eskamani, who’s running for mayor, voted against this bill. I don’t know who in their right mind would vote against restrictions on child predators, against restrictions on an individual like this guy today that lived in this house of horrors, a house decorated in the theme of little kids that he wanted to abuse. There’s no room for that type of discussion in government. There’s no room for that type of debate in the political sphere when it comes to protecting our children. There is no room for that fight. So shame on her for taking that position,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said.
News 6’s Orlando Community Correspondent Mike Valente texted Rep. Anna Eskamani during the press conference to ask why she voted against the bill. He read her response aloud.
He then read her response to Uthmeier.
“So you mentioned Anna Eskamani before. After you did, I texted her and she said, ‘I voted no on SB 212 because while protecting children and holding individuals accountable for crimes is essential, this bill expands residency and presence restrictions in ways that raise serious questions about effectiveness, fairness and unintended consequences,’” Valente said.
Uthmeier responded, “So I don’t know if anyone could hear…I guess he texted Anna Eskamani to ask why she voted ‘No’ on this bill to help combat child predators…and she’s got concerns over further restricting residency to keep predators from living near areas where a lot of kids are going to reside. Again, there’s no excuse for this. It’s wrong, it’s gross, no excuse.“
In her text to Valente, Eskamani also said she believes increasingly broad geographic exclusion zones do not necessarily reduce the risk of reoffending and can carry unintended consequences for people trying to rebuild their lives after conviction.
Eskamani later commented on social media about Uthmeier’s comment:
Unless the appointed Attorney General is committed to holding President Trump accountable for his pedophilia via the Epstein Files, I’m not interested in his opinion or political rhetoric about SB212.
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani, PhD 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) March 17, 2026
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