Former Florida GOP chairman under criminal investigation
Harry Hope
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/31/former-florida-gop-chairman-under-criminal-investigation/?fbid=_8PrU2Xysej
March 31, 2010
Former Florida GOP chairman under criminal investigation
From CNN Political Producer Peter Hamby
Washington (CNN) –
Former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer, who stepped
down from his post earlier this year after grassroots leaders revolted
against his management of the party, is under criminal investigation
for allegedly setting up an secret fundraising contract that paid him
and the party's executive director nearly $200,000 in donor money.
An independent annual audit of party expenses revealed that the party
"may have been the victim of illegal criminal activity on the part of
one of its vendors, controlled by a senior-level official," said Jim
Thrasher, the current chairman of the party, in a statement Wednesday.
That vendor was Victory Strategies, LLC, a firm set up in February
2009 by Greer and former RPOF executive director Delmar Johnson that
awarded them a 10 percent cut of all party donations.
Thrasher said he notified Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum on
March 15 of the "potential illegal activity."
McCollum called the information "serious and concerning" and referred
the matter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is now
investigating Greer for potential criminal activities.
Greer, the majority owner of the firm, and Johnson collected at least
$133,000 worth of donor money in 2009 along with $66,250 in
additional consulting fees.
The pair's financial windfall came as the party struggled to raise
money and faced a grassroots backlash from conservatives who saw Greer
as a puppet of Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is seeking the
Republican Senate nomination against former Florida House Speaker
Marco Rubio.
Crist appointed Greer, a political ally, to helm the RPOF in 2007, but
the chairman resigned this past February after a chorus of state
Republican leaders and donors raised questions his leadership and
management of party funds.
Within the Republican National Committee, Greer became a prominent
voice urging the GOP to open its arms to moderate voters and
minorities.
Greer himself considered running for the chairmanship of the RNC in
2009 before throwing his support to Michael Steele, a key endorsement
in the chairman's race.
The RNC had no comment on the investigation.
Greer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the
investigation.
Asked for the governor's response, Crist's office referred to an
interview he gave to the Miami Herald on Wednesday.
Crist said he only heard about the probe today.
He also told the paper he "had heard rumors" that Greer owned a stake
in a consulting firm that was paid with party funds.
"I find it terribly disturbing to hear, but I know that the Florida
Department of Law Enforcement will certainly conduct a thorough and
comprehensive investigation," Crist said.
Rubio, meanwhile, issued a statement saying he is "deeply troubled by
today's news accounts about possible criminal activity," but he would
not comment further due to the ongoing nature of the probe.
He thanked Thrasher for working "to turn the page" on Greer's tenure
at the party.
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Another day another Republican scandal
Harry
Tab182
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Breaking the law......It's The Republickcan Way!