Rep. (I was afraid of black men) Allen locked out of office

[flashl]

When Rep. Bob Allen arrived for the special session, he was locked out of his office -- but it wasn't a bad omen.

The Merritt Island Republican faces trial next month on a charge of sexual solicitation in the men's room of a Brevard County park. He has pleaded innocent and resisted pressure from legislative leaders to resign.

The House staff has rekeyed several work areas on the second floor of the House Office Building, so Allen couldn't get into his office this morning. He phoned the House sergeant-at-arms office, which dispatched an aide with a master key so Allen could go to work.

Allen said he can still be effective, even though Speaker Marco Rubio has removed him from all committee assignments. He said he will attend budget and insurance committee meetings, ask questions and monitor progress of bills reducing state spending and affecting personal-injury auto insurance -- and will vote on the House floor when issues are brought up.

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