Ex-chairman of Fla. state GOP arrested at home; no word if charges linked to finance probe

By AP
Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Ex-Fla. GOP chairman arrested, charges unknown

ORLANDO, Fla. — The former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida was arrested Wednesday, officials said, though they did not release the charges and there was no immediate word on whether they were linked to a probe of his finances.

A law enforcement official familiar with the case said Jim Greer was charged with a felony, but declined to give specifics ahead of a press conference by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The official was not authorized to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Greer, who was hand-picked by Gov. Charlie Crist after helping him get elected in 2006, stepped down in February. Party activists and major donors had called for his resignation over reports of lavish spending on private jets, decadent meals and entertainment.

State law enforcement officials have been investigating Greer since an audit found he awarded himself and his executive director a fundraising contract that paid them about $200,000.

Greer owned 60 percent of a corporation set up to raise money for the party and former party executive director Delmar Johnson owned the other 40 percent. The corporation got a 10 percent commission on money it brought in, the audit found.

Current party Chairman John Thrasher previously said he was told March 15 that the party may have been the victim of illegal activity after the audit discovered Greer and Johnson’s role in the corporation. Thrasher reported the findings to the attorney general’s office, which referred the case to state officials.

Messages left for Greer, an attorney representing him in a lawsuit against the party, and Crist were not immediately returned Wednesday. State GOP spokesman Katherine Gordon Betta said the party has not received information on the charges and declined to comment.

Greer was a surprise pick for chairman after he led local efforts to help Crist get elected, and Crist defended him through the day he resigned despite pressure from party leaders.

Crist has since abandoned the GOP to run for U.S. Senate as an independent after polls showed he could not beat tea party favorite Marco Rubio in a Republican primary.

Statements for party-issued American Express credit cards show Greer usually traveled with Crist, staying at top-tier hotels and dining in fancy restaurants.

Greer also brought along a mini-entourage of his own on most trips.

The statements released earlier this month detailed more than $7 million in charges on cards held by 30 elected and party officials and their staff during Greer’s three years as chairman.

Rubio, a former state House speaker, charged nearly $110,000 to a party-issued card. Among the charged items were repairs to Rubio’s family minivan, grocery bills, plane tickets for his wife, and retail purchases, including one from a wine store.

Campaign aides have said the charges were tied to party business and legitimate; for instance, they said, the minivan had been damaged while being used on GOP travel. They also said Rubio paid American Express $16,052.50 to cover non-party expenses when they happened.

But Rubio recently sent the party a $2,417.80 check as reimbursement for personal airline flights he said were mistakenly charged to the GOP credit card. Rubio blamed the expense on an accounting error.

Associated Press Writer Brendan Farrington in Tallahassee contributed to this report.

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