As previously reported by Laura Loomer, Esther Byrd has a very questionable past.

In March of 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appointed the wife of then Representative Cord Byrd to the State Board of Education.  Viewed as a controversial pick at the time due to her Qanon leanings, Esther was confirned by the senate regardless with no discussion on the matter.     Esther’s husband Cord was appointed as Secretary of State before the 2022 election. 

Despite Secretary Byrd’s early statements that Joe Biden did not win the 2020 election, his wife was all in on Ron DeSantis failed presidential campaign.   She regularly shares Anti-Trump posts on all of her social media platforms. 

In addition to sharing Anti ”“ Trump content, Esther Byrd also seemed to regularly share a large amount of Ron DeSantis content.  Having seemingly been a Trump supporter, it is not obvious that Esther Byrd was a loyal shill for the failed DeSantis campaign. 

Ron DeSantis has a history of rewarding those who do his bidding with political appointments.  Ron DeSantis has also appointed the wife of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.  

 Interestingly, before Cord Byrd’s appointment by DeSantis he briefly campaigned for Florida Senate District 4, although he withdrew prior to the primary election.  The senate seat was eventually won by Former Florida House of Representatives member Clay Yarborough.   Although on the surface it appears that Byrd withdrew from the race due to his appointment by DeSantis, many in Jacksonville political circles have questioned if that was the true motive. 

There have been rumors of Byrd’s improprieties in a previous marriage floating around Duval County politics for years.  A simple search of court records turns up a trove of information.  During a 2008 legal battle with then Husband David, it was documented in a court of law that Esther had engaged in affairs with 12 men and was unsure who the biological father of her child was.  

Esther filed a motion in the Fourth Judicial Circuit to disestablish paternity from her previous husband David regarding her son stating that she had engaged in intercourse outside of marriage and David was not the father of the child he believed to be his.  The two had divorced earlier two years prior.    

Shockingly, Esther Byrd could not state who the father of her son was due to the amount of men that she had been intimate with during her marriage.  As a result of the legal proceedings, Esther Byrd was ordered by pay child support to her ex husband as he was the custodial parent of her son. 

It appears from court filings that Esther was extremely difficult regarding her demands.  She stated to her ex-husband that he “would never see Dominic again” unless he complied with her demands. 

A quick review of David’s social media reveals that although Byrd’s son was not his biological child, he was able to maintain a relationship with the child despite Byrd’s efforts.  Byrd’s son is now an adult and by all accounts seems to be doing well.

Despite this saga not being publicly discussed, it has long been whispered in Jacksonville political circles.   It also makes me wonder if Ron DeSantis putting any effort into vetting his appointees.   While divorce alone should not be a disqualifying factor, Ron DeSantis regularly championed his family values on the campaign trail.  An overwhelming amount of evidence around Esther Byrd proves that Ron DeSantis is merely paying lip service to the values he claims to hold so highly.  Divorce happens routinely, but multiple instances of infidelity do not. 

The past history of Byrd makes it very odd that she would be seeking to “vet” candidates who have a “clean past”. Is someone with Esther’s past the type of person you would want to be selecting candidates to place in authority over school boards? It would appear from recently obtained text messages that is exactly what Byrd attempted to do with alleged Indivisible infiltrator Lisa Gaglianese. Is it true that “byrds of a feather flock together”?

The message from Gaglianese seems to confirm my prior reporting that Gaglianese was planning on moving the Indivisible operation to other states and not just limiting her influence to a single county. I also find it odd that Byrd specifically requested candidates with a clean background and public speaking ability rather than those who were aligned in principle. Notice there was no mention of policy, only winning elections. Who is vetting the people who do the vetting?

I have reported extensively on Gaglianese and Gross and have even been accused of reporting obsessively. I am very much obsessed with finding the truth in this extremely complicated matter of infiltration. I will continue to report as I discover new information. Sunlight is always the best disinfectant.

Gaglianese is a self-proclaimed “influencer” who stated her intention years ago to take control of her local GOP. Why would an inexperienced political operative be assisting the state board of education in vetting candidates?

When it comes to Indivisible, there are often more questions than answers. Is it surprising that a women who committed so much infidelity in her previous marriage would be partnering with a woman who has allegedly engaged in multiple instances of infidelity in her current marriage? We will let you decide.

Whatever your opinion of Gaglianese or Byrd you reach, simply ask yourself one question. Do women with this character represent your values as a member of the GOP? If they do, by all means support them. If they do not, it is your civic duty to speak and stop the infiltration taking place. As I have previouisly reported, their sights seem to be set on much more than just a single county.

It is worth noting that since our reporting began, Gaglianese has changed her name on social media to further conceal her identity.

Are Gaglianese and Gross truly supporters of Donald Trump? They seem to be surrounded by a mix of true Trump supporters and those who despise him. As a journalist I would like to personally thank Gaglianese and Gross for making my job so easy. It is a remarkable opportunity to report when you can simply use written proof of someone’s own words.