Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) on Monday sent a letter to Thomas Kirwin, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, asking him to conduct a “full, independent investigation” into a fund-raising scandal involving the Republican Party of Florida, The Orlando Sentinel reported. Kirwin, who is one of three finalists for the permanent position of U.S. Attorney in the Tallahassee-based district, has headed the office since last year.
On Friday, Crist sent a letter to state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, saying that federal prosecutors should take over the investigation because of the “IRS implications” arising from the probe of potential credit card abuses and financial irregularities.
Last 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 fund-raising company in which he owned a majority stake. Under the contract, the company — which Greer owned along with former Florida GOP executive director and top fund-raiser 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.
