Ethics Complaint Against David Rivera

It is bad when The Corner is making a check list of scandals surrounding David Rivera. National Review contributor urged Republicans to back Rivera's primary challenger Paul Crespo. Ouch.

Things are not getting better for Rivera. William Barzee has filed an ethics complaint against Rivera.

WILLIAM R. BARZEE, ATTORNEY AT LAW

FORMER SUPPORTER AND DONOR FILES FEC COMPLAINT AGAINST DAVID RIVERA

I would like to inform you that I have filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission regarding David Rivera’s apparent violations of federal election laws. As a former supporter and donor to David Rivera, I am saddened and surprised by what I see as a disregard for the rules and laws that govern our elections.

I have filed this complaint as a private citizen based upon a good faith belief that federal candidate David Rivera and the 527 Committee “Voters Response” have violated federal campaign finance laws in at least two ways. First, by coordinating with a 527 committee to attack candidate Joe Garcia and second, by avoiding campaign contribution limits by off-setting campaign expenses through the 527.

Sarah Bascom of Bascom Communications has been acting as spokesperson for the Rivera campaign. Rivera campaign finance reports however show no payment for her services. The 527 “Voters Response” on the other hand has been paid by Bascom Communications for its services. “Voters Response” is the 527 committee that has launched repeated unfair attacks against Joe Garcia.

Enough is enough.

527 committees were not created to launch attacks on behalf of a candidate’s campaign, nor were they created as a way to avoid campaign contribution limits.

I call on David Rivera to end the nasty political attacks and to stop abusing our campaign finance laws.

William R. Barzee

Barzee is accusing Rivera of coordinating with a 527 group. That is illegal under federal law.

Ethics complaints never go anywhere in Florida politics. So don't expect much to come from this. However, an ethics complain isn't exactly something Rivera wants to brag about on a campaign mailer. David Ramba of Voters Response said the attack attack ads against Democrat Joe Garcia have nothing to do with Rivera. Riiight.

``The stuff I did against Joe Garcia had nothing to do with David Rivera,'' said Ramba, a Tallahassee lawyer who has donated $2,400 to Rivera's campaign.

Where this gets fishy is Voter Response made a payments totaling $3,000 to Bascom Communications & Consulting. Rivera uses Bascom Communications & Consulting for his campaign. Sarah Bascom said her firm is not involved with Voter Response. Bascom better check her financial records before making that statement.