Charlie Crist Uses the Wine Excuse

This is too funny. Attorney John Morgan is claiming that Charlie Crist remembers nothing about about the compenstation received by former Republican Party of Florida chair Jim Greer and Delmar Johnson. The reason being is Crist couldn't defend himself from all the wine Jim Greer was pouring down his throat.

"Well it sounds like if your client (Greer) was buying all the wine, he was drunk and doesn't remember what happened," suggested Crist's attorney, John Morgan. Morgan is the founder of Morgan & Morgan, the firm where Crist now works.

The testimony happened June 26, 2012. Crist contends that he did not know that Greer and Johnson had used Victory Strategies. Alleged, Greer and Johnson set up Victory Strategies, billed the RPOF for no services and then paid themselves. Johnson ended up testifying against Greer.

Greer was politically toxic by the time Crist had his wine-filled meeting with Greer. The Florida Republican establishment wanted Greer gone and were willing to pay. Lobbyist Brian Ballard has stated that Crist was aware of the compensation deal for Greer and Johnson. Crist testified, "I don't believe that is truthful." Of course Crist cannot be sure. Greer was making consume gallons of wine.

Jim Greer Jail Audio Recordings

The St. Petersburg Times has partial transcripts of indicted former Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer's phone conversations. A box Delmar Johnson dropped off at the house is mentioned in Greer's conversation with his wife Lisa.

"Are the agents still there?" Greer asked.

"Yeah," said his wife, who repeatedly noted their calls were being recorded and that their bank accounts were searched.

"You should show 'em where everything is," Greer said. "There's nothing to hide there. There's that box that Delmar dropped that's in the garage."

I am curious about what is in the box. Johnson helped Greer set up Victory Strategies. Greer and Johnson owned the company and set up bogus billing accounts with the RPOF. The one little problem is they got caught and Johnson has been granted immunity to testify against Greer. One outside of jail recording has Greer talking to Johnson.

“I was hearing all last week that you were throwing me under the bus and you were saying a lot of things that I was finding very hard to believe that you would say,” Greer said.

“Yeah, no and I’m not doing that at all,” Johnson replied.

Johnson did throw Greer under the bus. Greer is facing a possible 77 years in prison.

Charlie Crist Makes CREW List of Corrupt Candidates

I missed this but Charlie Crist is that third candidate on the CREW list of corrupt candidates. Kendrick Meek and Marco Rubio are the other two candidates that made the list.

Crist has much explaining to do for defending indicted former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer. The latter was arrest on 6 counts of felony. Greer set up the company Victory Strategies with Delmar Johnson.

The party audit showed that Greer owned 60 percent of the company and Johnson owned the remaining 40 percent.

Greer authorized the contract to let Johnson take a 10 percent commission on all dollars he raised for the party coffers. It totaled $133,005 for 2009, with an additional $66,250 for other consulting services.

The Feds have granted Johnson immunity to testify against Greer. The trial will show the disregard the Republican Party of Florida had for the money of supporters.

CREW mentions Crist failing to prosecute former boy band manager Lou Pearlman. Crist was Attorney General when Pearlman was being investigated. Pearlman was convicted of stealing $300 million from banks and investors. Pearlman was a contributor to Crist campaigns.

I wish we could get new candidates. Unfortunately, The Florida Senate race is Crist, Meek, Rubio and Jeff Greene. Color me unimpressed.

Where Has Republican Party of Florida Money Gone

Here is a breakdown of RPoF money spent on American Express credit cards. Much of the RPoF money is still unaccounted for.

Percent Of RPOF AmEx Spending Detailed31.25%
Percent Still Unknown68.75%

RPOF Individual Spending On AmEx Cards

Speaker Marco Rubio - $110,000
Indicted Speaker Ray Sansom - $173,000
Speaker-designate Dean Cannon - $175,000
Senate President-designate Mike Haridopolos - *$2,347
Rubio Chief of Staff Richard Corcoran - $70,000
RPOF Executive Director Delmar Johnson - $500,000
Jr. Party Staffer Melanie Phister - $1,258,000
Total Charges Made Public - $2,286,000

[Sources: Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times, 4/11/10, Orlando Sentinel 4/12/10 ]
*Haridopolos only had AmEx card for 2 months, during period of intense media scrutiny before it was taken away.