ATTORNEY GENERAL McCOLLUM REFUSED TO RECUSE HIMSELF EVEN THOUGH HE'S STATE TOP COP

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: April 9, 2010

ATTORNEY GENERAL McCOLLUM REFUSED TO RECUSE HIMSELF EVEN THOUGH HE'S STATE TOP COP, INSTEAD ACTED AS LEGAL, POLITICAL ADVISOR TO RPOF AMID SCANDAL

Bill McCollum is Florida's top law enforcement officer, but instead of pursing possible wrongdoing at the RPOF, McCollum used his position to dismiss immediate calls for an investigation.

Yesterday, the Republican Party of Florida announced they are retaining a forensic audit firm to seek out inappropriate, lavish spending and lucrative secret contracts by elected officials and party leaders. The RPOF audit is starting as criminal investigations continue at the state and federal level.  

Attorney General Bill McCollum learned about the secret contract between Jim Greer and Delmar Johnson three months ago and dragged his feet on opening an official inquiry. Recent documents also show McCollum was involved with Jim Greer's severance negotiations and that Greer made "commitments" to the McCollum Campaign. 

"Given his position as the Attorney General and chief legal officer for our state, Bill McCollum should have recused himself from acting as a legal and political advisor for the Republican Party of Florida.  Instead, McCollum, as Attorney General irresponsibly dismissed an investigation that should have started months ago," said Eric Jotkoff, spokesman for the Florida Democratic Party.  "Bill McCollum publicly announced that he did not see criminal wrongdoing and even suggested that an investigation wasn't necessary. It's intolerable that Florida's chief law enforcement officer, Bill McCollum, dragged his feet on this potential wrongdoing while he had a clear conflict of interest."

BACKGROUND

APRIL:  FORENSIC AUDIT FIRM IS ANNOUNCED AS FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO RPOF IS SOUGHT...

RPOF Announced Forensic Audit Firm To Seek Out Inappropriate Spending As Federal Investigation Is Sought.  "The Republican Party of Florida has hired a firm to conduct a forensic audit and says it will seek reimbursement for any inappropriate spending. The audit begins as Gov. Charlie Crist is seeking a federal investigation into party finances. Several party officials and elected leaders had party credit cards. Reports of lavish spending led to the February resignation of Chairman Jim Greer. Greer is also accused of funneling donor money to a company he and former executive director Delmar Johnson owned. The audit by Alston & Bird LLP will look for other questionable contracts and expenditures."  [AP, 4/8/10]

RPOF Announced Audit Firm Will Review Various Internal Contracts "In Light Of The Discovery That The Past Chairman Apparently Concealed Partial Ownership In A Company That Had A Lucrative Contract".  A memo from the Republican Party for Florida's chairman, said, "in light of the discovery that the past Chairman apparently concealed partial ownership in a company that had a lucrative contract with the Party during his chairmanship, Alston + Bird will review various internal contracts with other vendors as well as other potentially questionable expenditures to determine whether or not the Party may have been the victim of any improper financial dealings on the part of the previous administration."  [AP, 4/8/10]

BUT McCOLLUM HAD KNOWLEDGE OF POSSIBLE WRONGDOING AND THE CONTRACT THREE MONTHS AGO....

"McCollum Was Told About The Contract" At The GOP's Annual Meeting In Orlando And "Shared It" With Cannon And Haridopolos.  The Orlando Sentinel's Central Florida Political Pulse reported, "McCollum was told about the contract at the GOP's annual meeting in Orlando on Jan. 9. He quickly shared it with Cannon and Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos.  Once all three had seen the contract, Johnson and 18 other RPOF staffers were laid off - a cost-cutting move that left the party with little to no field staff at the start of an election year."  [Orlando Sentinel: Central Florida Political Pulse, 2/9/10]

AND INSTEAD OF CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION HE SUGGESTED IT WASN'T NECESSARY AND EVEN PUBLICY ANNOUCNED HE DID NOT SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING

McCollum Suggested A Criminal Investigation Into FDLE Wasn't Necessary. "Months ago, McCollum received credit in helping oust Greer, a quiet, decisive presence behind the scenes. And now he initiated a criminal investigation by FDLE after earlier suggesting it wasn't necessary."  [St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald, 04/07/10]

McCollum: "I'm Waiting About What The New Chairman Might Discover. I Don't See Any Evidence At This Point Of Criminal Behavior."  "McCollum said he won't ask for inquiry until an audit of the RPOF is complete and he gets direction from the new party chairman to move although Gov. Charlie Crist last week said that party officials should open the books now. 'I'm waiting about what the new chairman might discover. I don't see any evidence at this point of criminal behavior,' McCollum said today after a speech to the National Federation of Independent Business."  [Palm Beach Post, 2/15/10]

 "McCollum: Delmar Contract Not Illegal".  "Attorney General Bill McCollum turned to former RPOF lawyer Richard Coates for a legal opinion on the secret contract that paid party executive director Delmar Johnson at least $199,000 last year. The early legal answer? 'It appeared to him, and I concurred, that this was all on the face of it a legitimate contract,' McCollum said Tuesday. 'Now is it outrageous? Absolutely. Was it something that should have never been entered into? Yes. But was it illegal? There's no appearance of that on the face of it.'"  [Orlando Sentinel, 2/9/10]

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