Haridopolos: 'No Comment' on Greer Deal Would Have Been Better

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, says, in retrospect, he should have just said no comment to a reporter.

Haridopolos said during a sit-down with reporters that he should have simply answered a Miami Herald reporters videotaped question differently when asked a year ago if there was an agreement involving ousted GOP Party Chairman Jim Greer.

If I had it done over again, I probably would have said no comment, Haridopolos said.

View video of Haridopolos' comments on Greer on Wednesday here.

The Senate president added that he told the reporter there was no agreement because the severance deal signed with Greer was considered confidential.

In a recently released deposition, Haridopolos acknowledged that a confidential agreement was reached with Greer.

Greer, who allegedly took about $125,000 from the state party for his own use through Victory Strategies, was arrested five months after he was forced from the party chairmanship in January 2010.

Greers lawyers contend party leaders knew about Victory Strategies.

Haridopolos added that if Greer is found innocent of money laundering, he should be paid what hes owed by the party, which is $124,000 in severance pay.

If he didnt do anything wrong, as he pleaded to us, and we agreed he didnt do anything wrong, hell be compensated like any other executive with a severance package, Haridopolos said. But if hes convicted of the crimes, then he obviously wont get the severance package because he did not keep the contract.