Venice mayor explains photo of him floating around social media

Author: 10News Staff , WTSP
Published: Updated:
Photo via WTSP

A Sarasota County mayor is explaining a photo that’s floating around social media.

The photo shows Venice Mayor John Holic appearing to grope a woman who was dressed as a pirate. Mayor Holic says it was a setup.

The mayor acknowledged it happened, but explained that it was about a year ago. He said he was having a glass of wine with his wife when people dressed as pirates came by.

He said a woman in the group asked to have her photo taken with the him and she placed his hand on a balloon that was under her blouse.

“Not being a social media person and being there with my wife, I just figured it was a group of people out having fun; I never thought about someone setting me up,” said the mayor.

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