In the latest portion of its campaign to highlight the fumbles and flip-flops of former governor Charlie Crist, the Republican Party of Florida has a new CRIST-ory lesson to share.
The newest CRIST-ory blast takes aim at Crists appointment of Jim Greer, former chairman of the RPOF. Greer rubbed elbows with Crist during his time as governor, and ultimately called a lot of shots for the state Republican Party.
The two worked so closely together that the former governor hand-picked Greer to head the Republican Party of Florida in 2007. But things went awry when Greer was arrested June 2, 2010, for allegedly planning to scam the state party out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. He was indicted with a total of six felony charges: organized scheme to defraud, money laundering, and four counts of grand theft.
A Florida Department of Law Enforcement search warrant affidavit painted a picture of Greer as a political insider who took commission off of money he raised for the RPOF.
Greers highly public trial would have aired out a load of Crists dirty laundry, but the former chairman pleaded guilty, getting 18 months in prison and one year probation for five of his charges before the trial got that far. Crist and other high-profile GOP members were spared the potential fallout.
This much is clear: With Crist taking steps to run for governor as a Democrat, his new buddies are willing to embrace his record with his old buddies, including Jim Greer, said Lenny Curry, current chairman of the RPOF. Jim Greer will be one of the many things Charlie Crist will have to explain to Democrats and all Florida voters.
Crist may have more to explain than just Greer: he may be forced to come clean about just how much he knew about Greer receiving commission from the money he raised for the party. Greer and three other witnesses said in their testimonies that Crist actually told Greer to pay himself commission out of what he raised for the GOP.
The CRIST-ory campaign has brought more heat onto the former governor, who is poised to make a second run for governor in 2014, this time as a Democrat.
Reach Tampa-based reporter Allison Nielsen atAllison@sunshinestatenews.com.
