THURMAN CALLS ON McCOLLUM TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM INVOLVEMENT IN FDLE INVESTIGATION

Thurman: McCollum Too Deeply Involved in RPOF Mess to Have Any More Involvement in Investigation

NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: April 7, 2010

THURMAN CALLS ON McCOLLUM TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM INVOLVEMENT IN FDLE INVESTIGATION

Thurman: McCollum Too Deeply Involved in RPOF Mess to Have Any More Involvement in Investigation

Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman today called for Attorney General Bill McCollum to recuse himself from any and all involvement in the continuing Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation into the Republican Party of Florida.

"Attorney General Bill McCollum must immediately recuse himself from the ongoing FDLE investigation into the corruption and potential criminal activity at the Republican Party of Florida," said Thurman. "The fact that Bill McCollum not only initially referred this matter to a Cabinet agency which he oversees, but is continuing to be briefed on the investigation, smacks of a conflict of interest and is clearly improper. McCollum is too deeply involved in the RPOF mess to have any more involvement in this criminal investigation and the people of Florida deserve better."

McCollum was intricately involved with aspects of the RPOF potential criminal activity and alleged cover-up. Not only was McCollum reportedly part of the backroom dealings at the RPOF including negations for Jim Greer's secret hush money contract, meaning McCollum himself could become a target of an expanded investigation, but between 2006 and 2009 the Republican Party of Florida donated nearly $2 million to McCollum's campaigns according to the Florida Division of Elections. Additionally, because McCollum is running for Governor, McCollum has a future financial stake in the Republican Party and a personal interest in keeping the scope narrow so his handpicked RPOF Chairman John Thrasher and other Republican politicians aren't scrutinized.

McCOLLUM WAS PRIVATELY ADVISING THE RPOF ON MATTERS RELATED TO THEIR PROBLEMS & CONTROVERSEY

A County GOP Chairman: McCollum Was Willing to Get in the Room, Make the Decisions and Make the Problems Go Away.  According to the Sun-Sentinel, on January, 5, 2010, Palm Beach County GOP Chairman Sid Dinerstein said he thinks " 'the bigger winner is [Republican gubernatorial frontrunner] Bill McCollum, who stepped up, showed leadership, and it's going to propel him right into the Governor's Mansion. He filled the vacuum within the party. He was willing to get in the room, make the decisions, and make the problems go away.' " [Sun-Sentinel, 1/5/10]

McCollum "Has Been Deeply Involved In The Controversy, While Trying To Keep It Quiet".  "Attorney General Bill McCollum, the Republican gubernatorial frontrunner, has been deeply involved in the controversy, while trying to keep it quiet." [St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald, 2/9/10]

McCOLLUM DID NOT WANT THE STATE PARTY BUSINESS TO BECOME A PUBLIC MATTER-HE EVEN SOUGHT A LEGAL OPINION, DETERMINING THAT HE DID NOT SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF WRONGDOING

 McCollum Said The Next Chairman Will "Correct" The RPOF Issues And Didn't Think The Party Business Was A Public Matter.  "McCollum, a Republican vying to replace Crist as governor, said he doesn't think party business should be a public matter and that releasing AmEx statements for past cardholders was a decision that should be left to the next chairman. 'I don't think it's good for any political party to be having everything that's done inside the party open to the public and the press,' said McCollum.   [Orlando Sentinel, 2/10/10]

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]

MONTHS AFTER LEARNING OF GREER'S CONTRACT, McCOLLUM SUDDENLY REFERRED THE RPOF MATTER TO THE FDLE, WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE INVESTIGATION, BUT KEPT IT QUIET FOR TWO WEEKS AND DID NOT INFORM THE GOVERNOR

McCollum Referred The RPOF Matter To FDLE And Kept It Quiet For Two Weeks.  Two weeks after the fact, McCollum issued an official release stating, "On March 15, Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher shared with me information discovered during the process of the Party's annual internal audit. This information indicates there may have been criminal activity surrounding a former senior official of the Republican Party of Florida and a company called Victory Strategies, LLC. Upon learning this very serious and concerning information, I immediately referred the matter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement."  [McCollum Release, 03/31/10]

McCollum Indicated That He Was Informed About Details Of The Investigation And Said It Was Going Well.  "McCollum said he thought state authorities were doing fine by themselves ...  'I think it's been investigated rather well to date by FDLE.'" [Orlando Sentinel, 4/2/10]

The Governor Was Not Given A Heads Up About The Investigation.  On March 31, the St. Petersburg Times Buzz Blog reported, "FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey reports to Crist and the Cabinet, and Crist is constantly accompanied by one or more FDLE agents, but the governor said he did not receive a heads-up of FDLE's investigation of Greer. 'I heard about it about an hour ago,' Crist said about 1:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday."  [St. Petersburg Times, 03/31/10]

McCOLLUM'S OFFICE SERVES AS LEGAL ADVISER TO FDLE WHERE HE REFERRED THE CASE

McCollum's Role In The FDLE Investigation Unclear-Spokesperson Said McCollum "Serves In This Function As FDLE's Legal Counsel".  FDLE spokeswoman Heather Smith did not "comment on who is overseeing the FDLE investigation, including whether McCollum is involved," according to The Tampa Tribune.  "Asked about McCollum's role, spokeswoman Sandi Copes said McCollum 'serves in this function as FDLE's legal counsel,' and 'has no intention of calling for FDLE to close its ongoing criminal investigation."  [The Tampa Tribune, 4/2/10]

McCollum's Department Of Legal Affairs Is FDLE's Legal Adviser.  According to Florida state law, chapter, 943.03, "The Department of Legal Affairs shall be the legal adviser to and shall represent the department," referring to the Department of Law Enforcement.  [Florida State Law, Chapter, 943.03, Department of Law Enforcement]

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