CNN political commentator and former Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum was one of three men present in a Miami Beach hotel room when police arrived to treat a drug overdose, according to an early Friday morning police report.
The former Tallahassee mayor was reportedly vomiting in the bathroom and unable to communicate with authorities, according to the police report. Police observed three plastic bags of what they believed to be crystal meth in the room with the men, one of whom had overdosed on the possessed substance. "Mr. Gillum was unable to communicate with officers due to his inebriated state," the report states.
Gillum, who fell just about 30,000 votes shy of being elected governor of Florida in 2018, has remained active in Democratic politics through appearances on CNN, where he was hired as a political commentator. There has also been speculation that the eventual Democratic presidential nominee would consider Gillum to be his or her running mate.
Gillum in a Friday morning statement confirmed the incident but said he did not use any drugs.
"I was in Miami last night for a wedding celebration when first responders were called to assist one of my friends," Gillum said in a statement. "While I had too much to drink, I want to be clear that I have never used methamphetamines."
The police report indicates that authorities were called by one of the three men. Police arrived at the room in Miami Beach's Mondrian hotel to find Gillum vomiting in the bathroom and another man unresponsive. The man told the police that he believed both Gillum and the other man to be "under the influence of an unknown substance," according to the report, which was first reported by conservative activist Candace Owens and later confirmed by numerous media outlets.
While the other man was admitted to the hospital, Gillum was able to leave the room and return to his residence after a welfare check. The drugs were impounded at the police station.
Gillum apologized in his Friday morning statement for the "distraction" caused by the incident.
"I apologize to the people of Florida for the distraction this has caused our movement," Gillum said. "I will spend the next few weeks with my family and appreciate privacy during this time."
CNN did not respond to a request for comment on the incident.