Florida Gov. Rick Scott's trust unloaded Russian investment -- but he claims he had no role in choosing it
Governor Rick Scott (Photo: Screenshot)

As a Senate candidate, Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL) is required to disclose his financial investments, debt and property ownership. The 125-page report, filed Friday, revealed at least $50,000 in income last year from sales of his stock in a Russian shipping company that has come under fire, the Bradenton Herald reported.


The company, Navigator Holdings, Ltd., has caused problems for Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who owns a large stake. After increased scrutiny, Ross said he would divest from the company eight months after joining the administration. There’s no evidence he has, however.

The company is responsible for transporting liquefied petroleum gas for international companies as well as Russian state-owned utilities. One of the major clients is Sibur, a Russian energy company with links to the Kremlin.

The investment disclosure listed his wife's income from the stock between $50,001 and $100,000, but the family said they no longer own the stock and didn't make the decision to invest.

"The governor had no role in selecting that investment," a statement from his campaign read. "The blind trust is managed by an independent financial professional who decides what assets are bought, sold or changed. The rules of the blind trust prevent any specific assets or the value of those assets within the trust from being disclosed to the governor, and those requirements have always been followed. When asked recently, Gov. Scott was clear he believes that Putin is not our friend or ally, and should not be trusted.”

Scott has said that he disagrees with President Donald Trump's close relationship with Vladimir Putin and doesn't trust the Russian president.

Scott's financial disclosure reveals at least $255 million in investments.