Jim Greer Investigation: Former Florida GOP Chairman Under Criminal Probe

Former Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer is facing a criminal investigation that will examine allegations that Greer spearheaded a secret fundraising contract that may have resulted in nearly $200,000 of donor money being redirected to Greer and the party's executive director.

Jim Thrasher, who took over as chairman of the Florida Republican Pary after Greer resigned released a statement Wednesday outlining the findings of an independent annual audit of expenses.

"[D]uring the course of the ongoing internal audit it was discovered that the Republican Party of Florida may have been the victim of illegal criminal activity on the part of one of its vendors, controlled by a senior-level official," Thrasher said in a statement Wednesday. "I immediately notified Attorney General Bill McCollum, who has referred this matter to the proper authorities."

Greer left the top spot at the state party in January over complaints about his spending as well as his support for Florida Gov. Charlie Crist over challenger Marco Rubio -- the more conservative candidate -- in the state's U.S. Senate race.

Crist, who hand-picked Greer as chairman for Republican party, responded to news that his colleague was coming under legal fire Wednesday afternoon:

"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 told reporters.

Comments

[jeremyfive]

09:38 AM on 04/09/2010

Welcome to Florida! We have boatloads of criminals here. Remember Jeb and Katherine Harris? Mark Foley? Lots of dirty Republicans. Take your pick.

[xxpossum]

02:50 PM on 04/02/2010

where are the hookers and whips? thought these crackers had standards to keep up

[imsosure]

03:43 PM on 04/01/2010

Could be he deserves to be investigated too, aye? It is possible you know? Hmm, ever not heard of corruption when speaking of the GOP? Seriously!

[buckbanter44]

03:09 PM on 04/01/2010

Whew!!!!!!!!! I was afraid he was poking his boyfriend who was growing pot at home. A little embezzling is expected at that level of either party, isn't it?

[medici]

02:38 PM on 04/01/2010

He needed the money to pay for his strip club visits.

[DorianBrandon]

02:18 PM on 04/01/2010

Oh! So much for family values.

[dax49]

01:20 PM on 04/01/2010

I see a day when the entire GOP is doing time

[dinglebe]

12:48 PM on 04/01/2010

Nearly every enterprise conducted in the state of Florida is rife with corruption and criminal illegality. The Florida GOP is just doing its part to keep up.

[wassilij]

12:12 PM on 04/01/2010

Jimmi 'The Mouth' Greer

[johndab]

10:36 AM on 04/01/2010

OOPS!!!! ANOTHER GREEDY GOPER SON OF A B*#TCH

REMEMBER HIS NAME.............SOMEONE WILL NOMINATE HIM FOR STEELE'S JOB

[jagrmeister721]

09:25 AM on 04/01/2010

This is the result of a philosophy whose intellectual underpinnings can be boiled down to: "Look out for #1".

(please don't respond with a joke related to #2- ie: "that means you have to look out for a lot of #2"...)

[nick1936]

08:20 AM on 04/01/2010

Money money even Henney stealing from dead service mens wives and children

[rgilley]

06:59 AM on 04/01/2010

Another member of the grand ole party of the south under investigation. Who knew?
Throw these bums out in 2010!!

[ILuvBubbles]

06:54 AM on 04/01/2010

Of course it involves money.

[Querent]

06:14 AM on 04/01/2010

Rubio's no more conservative than Crist, he's just a more disciplined accuser of everybody except himself. Rubio has no time for detailed analysis, he's too eager to take the cheap shots. But no conservatives at all should be the goal for Florida.