Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns

Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has resigned, Gov. Rick Scott's office announced Wednesday.

Earlier Tuesday she was interviewed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is assisting in a national probe of Allied Veterans of the World, a Florida-based nonprofit that operates a chain of internet cafes.

Carroll once owned a public relations firm that represented Allied Veterans, and she did work for the company at the same time she served in the Florida House.

Gov. Scott will address the media after an afternoon news conference on the matter conducted by law enforcement.

Scott chief of staff Adam Hollingsworth released the follow statement:

"Individuals were arrested Tuesday for a racketeering and money laundering charges in connection with Allied Veterans of the Worlds illegal gambling companies. Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll consulted for Allied Veterans while serving as a member of the Florida House of Representatives in 2009 and 2010. She was interviewed by Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers Tuesday regarding her work with the company. Lt. Gov. Carroll resigned in an effort to keep her former affiliations with the company from distraction from the administration's important work on behalf of Florida families. She made the right decision for the state and her family."

Carroll, whose son plays for the Miami Dolphins, ran for Congress in 2000 as a political newcomer. She lost to Democratic Rep. Corrine Brown despite outspending Brown 2-1. In 2001, Carroll said she talked with Vice President Dick Cheney about a job on his staff.

Later that year, Carroll was nominated by Gov. Jeb Bush to run Florida's Department of Veterans Affairs. Her nomination was confirmed. She resigned about a year later to run again for Congress. She lost.

In 2003, she was elected to the state House in District 13, where she has served ever since. She was appointed deputy majority leader by Speaker Johnnie Byrd in 2003 and served as a majority whip from 2004-2006.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

This story was originally published March 13, 2013 at 8:58 AM with the headline "Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns."