NEWS FROM THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

For Immediate Release: June 1st, 2011
Contact: Eric Jotkoff, (850) 222-3411

Florida Democrats Demand Buchanan Resign As National Republican Congressional Committee Finance Vice Chair

The Florida Democratic Party today is demanding that Congressman Vern Buchanan step aside as Vice Chairman for Finance of the National Republican Congressional Committee in light of the Federal Elections Commission’s alleging in court documents that Buchanan benefited from an “extensive and ongoing scheme” to break campaign finance laws as first reported last night. The FEC is seeking a nearly $70,000 fine.

“After being embroiled in an ‘extensive and ongoing scheme’ to break campaign finance rules, Congressman Vern Buchanan is the last person that should be running the finances for the National Republican Congressional Committee,” said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff. “It’s past time for Vern Buchanan to come clean about his role and for Republicans to live up to their promised a zero tolerance policy for Republican members caught in ethics scandals.”

Background

·         NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions appointed Buchanan as the NRCC’s Finance Vice Chair on January 14, 2011. [NRCC Press Release, 1/14/2011]

·         FEC says Rep. Buchanan’s former Hyundai firm violated law. “The Federal Election Commission is asking a federal court to impose a $67,900 fine on a company formerly co-owned by Rep. Vern Buchanan that it says engaged in an “extensive and ongoing scheme” to reimburse employees who made contributions to the Sarasota Republican’s congressional campaign. In a motion for default filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Florida, the FEC says Hyundai of North Jacksonville – which Buchanan once partially owned — violated federal campaign finance law by making contributions in excess of the legal limit and by reimbursing employees who made the contributions. […] The owner of the company said Tuesday he has acknowledged the company reimbursed employees, but said it was a “directive” issued by Buchanan.” [Bradenton Herald, 5/31/11]

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