A judge has admonished lawyers on both sides to limit their public comments in a criminal case against a former aide to Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll.
Circuit Judge Frank Sheffield spoke privately with the lawyers Tuesday, but he denied the prosecution's request for a formal gag order.
Carletha Cole is charged with violating state law by secretly recording a conversation with Carroll's chief of staff. She then allegedly gave the recording to a newspaper reporter.
Cole's lawyers subsequently filed court documents in which she claimed to have found Carroll in a compromising position with another female aide, Beatriz Ramos, which Carroll denied.
The defense lawyers also accused Ramos of setting fire to a trash can in Cole's office and asked for a fire marshal's investigation, which was denied.
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