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Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) said Friday that a probe into a fundraising scandal involving the Republican Party of Florida should be handled by the Tallahassee U.S. Attorney’s office rather than the state law enforcement.

In a letter dated Friday to state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Christ said federal prosecutors should take over the investigation because of “the potential IRS implications.”

Earlier this week, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has opened a criminal investigation into former Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer for his part in awarding a lucrative contract to Victory Strategies, a fundraising company in which he owned a majority stake. Under the contract, the company — which Greer owned along with with former Florida GOP executive director and top fundraiser Delmar Johnson — would receive a 10 percent commission on major donations to the party.

GOP party leaders denied knowing about Greer’s ownership in Victory Strategies, and Greer filed a lawsuit Thursday against the party, accusing it of smearing him and violating the terms of his severance agreement. Greer was selected as party chairman in 2007 by Crist and stepped down from his position in January amid complaints of lavish spending by the party.

An audit of the party’s finances found several people with party credit cards charged entertainment and other expenses that may not have had a legitimate business purpose,The Orlando Sentinel reported. Individuals with party credit cards included Greer and Johnson; former state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R), who will face Crist in the Republican Senate primary; House Speaker-designate Dean Cannon; and Senate President Jeff Atwater (R), who is running for CFO. Crist has said he did not have a card, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Both Rubio and Cannon have been accused of using the party cards for personal expenditures.  Cannon reportedly spent $175,000 over two years on charter planes, expensive dinner and other items he claims were related to “party business,” the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Earlier Friday, Sink, a Democrat, called for the investigation to be transferred to either the Leon County state’s attorney or the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Northern District of Florida. In a letter to state Attorney General Bill McCollum (R), Sink requested transfer because of the potential impropriety of Republican administration officials investigating the Republican Party.

“It is only through a completely independent investigation that Floridians can have confidence that any criminal activity that may have occurred in the Republican Party will be properly addressed,” Sink wrote.

In his letter to Sink, Crist wrote while he has “tremendous confidence in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement … I do believe [the case] should be referred to the [U.S. Attorney's office].”

The current acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida is Thomas F. Kirwin. He also is one of three finalists for the permanent position.