TEA Party Seeks Sanctions and Legal Fees in Latest Salvo Against RPOF

The Florida TEA Party's legal merry-go-round took another whirl this week with the party's demand for court sanctions.

TEA's running tiff with Tampa political activist Don Hensarling began last summer when Hensarling filed a series of suits alleging that TEA (Taxed Enough Already), among other things, conspired to "defraud" voters and draw votes from Republicans "to the benefit of Democrat candidates."

Hensarling also alleged that TEA "accepted money from persons affiliated with the Democratic Party to form the TEA Party."

TEA maintains that Hensarling is in the pocket of the state Republican Party, and quoted former state Republican Party Chairman John Thrasher as saying "RPOF is happy to provide financial assistance" to Hensarling's court cases.

Calling Hensarling's claims "frivolous" and "malicious," TEA Party founder Fred O'Neal filed a motion in Orange County Circuit Court on Tuesday seeking court sanctions and "an award of attorney's fees."

Hensarling's attorney, Harry Thomas of Tallahassee, did not respond to Sunshine State News' request for comment.