SPECIAL OF THE DAY: The “Flying” Waffle

Crist-Crossin’ Charlie’s House of Waffles

Crist Attacked Chiles, Claiming He Was Using State Planes For Political Purposes. "Attorney General Bob Butterworth has been asked to determine the legality of airplane trips that Gov. Lawton Chiles has been making to support political candidates. Sen. Charlie Crist, R-St. Petersburg, has asked Butterworth for a formal opinion under a law that allows public officials to seek guidance from the state's top legal adviser...Crist says he thinks any use of the planes for political purposes is illegal and has asked Butterworth for a formal interpretation of the law."  [St. Petersburg Times, 10/24/96]

Running for AG, Crist Under Fire For His Own Use Of State Planes For Campaign Purposes.  "The Commission on Ethics was investigating allegations that Crist used state planes and state-paid airline tickets to get to cities in which he had both state and campaign business. Florida law says the state must be reimbursed a "pro-rated" amount when an official uses state resources for non-state business, and Crist had not reimbursed the state for any such dual-purpose trips, state campaign records show.  But when a commission investigator asked him for help with dates and locations of fund-raisers, Crist, on the advice of his attorney, refused... Ethics Commission investigator Robert Malone said Wednesday that Crist stonewalled his investigation."  [Palm Beach Post, 11/11/02]