FBI, IRS Launch PROBE Of Florida GOP's Credit Card Expenses

[Segami]

" Federal law enforcement agencies have launched a criminal investigation into the use of American Express cards issued by the Republican Party of Florida to elected officials and staff, according to sources familiar with the probe.


The U.S. attorney's office in Tallahassee, the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service are all involved in the probe, which grew out of the state investigation into former House Speaker Ray Sansom. He was indicted on criminal charges that he stashed $6 million in the state budget for an airplane hangar for a friend and campaign donor.


In the federal case, Sansom and others could be charged with making false statements on their tax returns and tax evasion.


A spokeswoman for the Republican Party of Florida, Katie Gordon, said she could not confirm the investigation nor make any comments. Coming in a high-stakes election year, the investigation could expose the inner-workings of a party that has dominated state government and raked in millions of dollars from lobbyists and special interests.


Meanwhile, in a separate inquiry, the IRS is also looking at the tax records of at least three former party credit card holders — former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, ex-state party chairman Jim Greer and ex-party executive director Delmar Johnson —to determine whether they misused their party credit cards for personal expenses, according to a source familiar with the preliminary inquiry.


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<http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/20/1589469/feds-launch-inquiry-into-gop-credit.html[br />

[melm00se]

1. If I were a freeper

I would question the timing of this investigation and I am sure that they will.

[peekaloo]

2. Charlie Crist asked the Feds for help.

So did Alex Sink, I believe.

[Segami]

4. It's temping to take that position but then there are other suspects of interest who

could also benefit from such a timely investigation. Whispering enemies.


" Rubio's struggling rival for the U.S. Senate, Gov. Charlie Crist, has seized on the former lawmaker's credit card spending to try to raise questions about his integrity."

[Orlandodem]

3. Why isn't the Attorney General, Bill McCollum (R), investigating?

Oh yeah. Because he is a Republican and he is running for governor. He doesn't want to help bring down his party.

There needs to be a VERY loud echo chamber repeating the mantra that the Republican government in Florida is corrupt and out of control.

[peekaloo]

5. too busy enlisting the services of his old law buddies to repeal "ObamaCare"

may they all go down in a spectacular fashion.

[Segami]

6. That sentiment could be sooner than we think.