11
Shocking Verdict: Fabian Basabe Held Liable in Ex-Staffers’ Civil Case
Florida Lawmaker Fabian Basabe Found Liable in Civil Harassment Case
Published: July 15, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Updated: July 15, 2026 at 11:47 PM
What Happened?
Imagine a big fight that doesn’t happen on the playground, but in a special room called a courtroom. A civil case (which is like a non-criminal complaint where someone says they were harmed and wants money or justice) against Florida State Representative Fabian Basabe has now come to an end.
- Basabe is a politician from Miami Beach (part of the Republican party, which is one group in U.S. politics).
- He was accused of sexually harassing two people who used to work for him:
- Jacob Cutbirth, who was an intern (like a temporary learner at the job)
- Nicholas Frevola, who was a legislative aide (a helper who assists the lawmaker)
- The two men say he touched them in ways that made them uncomfortable and acted unprofessionally.
- As proof, the court saw tweets (short posts on social media), text messages, and photos.
The Verdict
On Wednesday afternoon, a jury (a group of regular people picked to decide what happened) said Basabe was liable.
"Liable" just means the jury decided he was responsible for the bad behavior.
Important Point: The jury only took about two hours to talk it over, and they said Basabe must pay $450,000 in damages (money given to the victims to make up for the harm).
Basabe Represented Himself
Usually, people in court hire a lawyer (a trained professional who knows the rules). But Basabe is not a lawyer and never went to law school. He chose to speak for himself.
This led to some awkward moments, especially on Wednesday when he gave his final speech to the jury in Leon County:
- He had many private chats with the judge (called sidebars).
- People noticed he kept texting on his phone, maybe trying to get help or info for the trial — and it didn’t always work.
- At one point, he said he accidentally deleted a whole page of his notes.
Watch the Hearing
A part of Wednesday’s court session can be seen in the video shared by Local 10 News below:
About the Author
- Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter.
- He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.
- He moved to South Florida to escape the cold northern winters.
Summary
A Florida lawmaker, Fabian Basabe, was found responsible by a jury for sexually harassing two former staffers. He chose to defend himself in court without a lawyer, which caused some messy moments. The jury awarded $450,000 to the men after only two hours of discussion.
FAQ
1. What does "civil case" mean in simple terms?
It’s a type of court fight where someone says they were wronged and asks for money or a formal decision, instead of the government trying to send someone to jail.
2. Who were the people who accused Basabe?
Two former workers: Jacob Cutbirth (an intern) and Nicholas Frevola (a legislative aide).
3. Why is it a big deal that Basabe represented himself?
Because he had no legal training, which made the trial harder and led to mistakes like deleted notes and constant texting for help.
4. How much money does Basabe have to pay?
The jury said he must pay $450,000 in damages.
Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com — All rights reserved.
