A controversial Page Six fixture turned Florida State House Rep. Fabián Basabe has been accused of slapping a 25-year-old aide.
The bizarre alleged incident reportedly occurred early this year at a reception hosted by a Tallahassee lobbying firm after Gov. Ron DeSantis’ inauguration, CBS News Miami reported.
The aide, Nicolas Fevola, told the outer that Basabe “had been drinking and was mistaken about something that lead him to slap me in the face in front of other people in the room. He then told me to stand in the corner. I was so embarrassed that I did as he asked.”
But Basabe told CBS investigative reporter Jim DeFede of the accusation, “What? I don’t remember anything like that.”
Frevola said in a statement to CBS: “I chose not to speak about it at the time for several reasons because I was horribly embarrassed, and was unsure of my right to do so because [Basabe] required me to sign an NDA when I started working with him.”
Basabe was asked by CBS if he required staff to sign nondisclosure and said: “There’s an application package. Whatever is in there, is in there. I don’t deal with the hiring process.” he also alleged that Frevola “has personal issues.”
A rep for Florida House Speaker Paul Renner told CBS Miami, “We are aware of the allegations altercation, and we are investigating the matter. We will not comment any further.”
Basabe told CBS he has not been contracted about any investigation, adding, “absolutely not.”
Oddly, Frevola was reportedly previously accused by State Rep. Carolina Amesty of trying to run her over with a car last year when she was facing off with his mom, Janet Frevola, in a GOP primary.
CBS Miami reported that Nicolas said: “Amesty falsely accused me of a crime… I was shocked by the accusation, explained that I do not own a white car and assured her it was not me.”
He said his denial was accepted by Amesty, who did not comment.
That situation is also being investigated by the same body as the Basabe allegation.