July 21, 2005
TALLAHASSEE - Judge John G. Roberts Jr., the president's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, made a brief appearance in Florida during the 2000 presidential recount - but he never signed up to represent any of the parties involved in dozens of lawsuits that erupted.
Roberts was one of several constitutional experts who visited Florida, a spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush said. At the governor's invitation, Roberts traveled at his own expense and met once with the governor to share what Roberts believed the governor's responsibilities were under federal law in a presidential election dispute. Roberts was not paid for his advice.
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The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Roberts gave "private legal advice" to the governor during the recount as a long-standing member of the Republican National Lawyers Association, while others reported that Roberts gave the governor advice on how to declare his brother the winner.
http://www.sptimes.com/2005/07/21/State/Roberts_gave_advice_d.shtmlLot's on denials in this article. Gee, we hardly knew him. Gee, he didn't even get paid. Gee, he only spoke to Jeb once. Everyone has an answer except the people that were actually involved.
The other thing that jumps out at me from this article is that they insist that Roberts' gave his advice for free and that he paid his own expenses for the trip. Wouldn't this be considered a campaign contribution. Wouldn't it be a violation of election law if Roberts' and/or the Bush Campaign did not report Roberts' contributions?
I just hope this comes up in his confirmation hearings. I really have a problem with someone becoming a Supreme Court Justice who doesn't believe in counting every vote.