TEA Party Calls For Criminal Investigation of Republicans

Citing "a possible conspiracy within the Republican Party of Florida," Florida TEA Party Chairman Fred O'Neal on Wednesday accused the GOP of making false or malicious statements against his party and its candidates.

In a lengthy compendium of documents filed with Leon County State Attorney Willie Meggs and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, O'Neal charged that RPOF statements about the TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party violated Florida Statute 104.271 and that RPOF's financing of a series of lawsuits against TEA violated FS 877.01.

O'Neal named Republican state Reps. Dean Cannon, Chris Dorworth, Eric Eisnaugle and Steve Precourt in his criminal complaint, and said "several Republican operatives" have received subpoenas.

"We will expose this operation for exactly what it is -- a criminal conspiracy to spread lies, distortions and innuendo about the TEA Party and its candidates," O'Neal said.

Dan Conston, spokesman for the RPOF, called the TEA complaint "laughable" and said O'Neal's assertions "reveal the desperation of an individual who has been uncovered for what he is, a front for Alan Grayson and his corrupt political games.

Republicans maintain that Rep. Grayson, D-Orlando, has directly and indirectly supported the candidacy of TEA congressional candidate Peg Dunmire in an effort to drain conservative votes from GOP challenger Daniel Webster. Grayson and TEA have denied that charge.