Florida GOP Candidate Apologizes For Saying She Had College Degree, Stays In Race

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -— A candidate for the Florida Legislature is apologizing for saying she had a college degree that she didn't complete, but says she will still stay in the race.

State House candidate Melissa Howard last week posted a photo of herself with a Miami University diploma after being accused of lying about her degree, but on Monday she said she made a mistake.

It's also a mistake that might be a crime — it's a first-degree misdemeanor in Florida to forge a diploma.

The Republican didn't answer calls, but she posted her apology on Facebook, saying "I made a mistake in saying that I completed my degree. What I did was wrong."

She's running for a seat representing parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Early voting has begun in the Aug. 28 primary.

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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