Ask Charlie Crist If Peter Schorsch Is Working On the Campaign

I recently emailed Amanda Litman of the Charlie Crist campaign and asked if Peter Schorsch was involved with the Crist campaign. Ms. Litman never responded to my email. I have nothing against Ms. Litman. I do want to know if Schorsch has involvement with the Crist campaign. Florida voters have a right to know if Crist is getting campaign advice from Schorsch.

Background on Schorsch

Schorsch has bragged in the comments of this blog about having a intimate relationship with Jack Hebert's daughter. Schorsch was at one time employed by Hebert.

First and foremost, is my blood feud against political consultant Jack Hebert. I mean, I hooked up with his daughter, for goodness.

The problem with that was Hebert's daughter was in high school at the time. Schorsch was in his mid-twenties. Schorsch again admitted to the relationship in the St. Petersburg Times.

In 2003, Schorsch had a falling out with the firm's founder and principal, Jack Hebert. The disagreement stemmed at least partly from Schorsch's decision to date Hebert's high school daughter, Schorsch said.

The same article details legal problems Schorsch had starting in the late nineties.

In 1998, a judge signed an order evicting him from an apartment at 11150 4th St. N for failing to pay $575 in rent.

In July 1998, he was caught driving on a suspended license by University of South Florida police, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.

He was charged twice more for driving with a suspended license, in January and March of 2001.

Also that year, he was sued by a holding company because he wasn't making car payments. His car, a 1995 Ford Contour, was repossessed.

In 2007, Schorsch pleaded no contest to two counts of grand theft. According to the St. Petersburg Times, Schorsch took campaign money from candidates Ed Helm and Eve Joy and provided no services in return.

Then, in 2006, Schorsch was arrested on charges he stole nearly $10,000 from the Democratic club, and from Ed Helm and Eve Joy, who ran for mayor and a seat on the St. Petersburg City Council, respectively, in 2005.

Schorsch took their money and did no work.

After pleading no contest, he was sentenced to two years of house arrest and three years of probation, during which he was prohibited from working in campaigns.

He also was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and pay restitution.

But Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone agreed to withhold a formal finding of guilt for Schorsch, who had no other felonies, which meant he would no have a record as convicted felon.

Schorsch was also charged with writing 16 bad checks. To say Schorsch has serious ethical problems with money is an understatement.

The same year, The Florida Elections Commission found Schorsch guilty of violating 40 counts of state campaign law. Schorsch used his organization Take Back Tampa Bay to buy food at Pizza Hut and Gumby's The FEC found that Schorsch filed a false information repeatedly with the FEC. Schorsch was fined $66,475.00. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Schorsch has still not paid the majority of the fine.

Florida Elections Commission Ruling Against Peter Schorsch

There is a Facebook group that I started called "Ask Charlie Crist If Peter Schorsch Is Working On the Campaign." Schorsch has worked on previous Crist campaigns. Schorsch was involved with the Charlie Crist's announcement that he was running for governor. The Crist campaign needs to answer on if Schorsch is currently involved with the campaign. It is a simple yes or no answer.

Why I Doubt Nan Rich Is Trying to Win

Nicole Sandler recently interviewed gubernatorial candidate Nan Rich. The strategy from Rich is to repeatedly ask Crist for a debate. It will not happen as long as Rich's poll numbers are in the tank. According to Public Policy Polling, Rich has a favorability rating of 10 percent. A June Miami Herald article reports that Rich has only raised $379,000.00. Rumor is the Rich campaign is broke. Essentially, it is over before it started.

I have wondered why Rich has pointed out Crist's relationships with Jim Greer, Scott Rothstein and Peter Schorsch. The one thing these men have in common is that their mugshots are all over the internet.

Jim Greer Mugshot

Scott Rothstein Arrest

Peter Schorsch Mugshot

Rich has not attacked Crist's connection to his rather interesting friends. Greer was Crist's handpicked chairman for the Republican Party of Florida. Under sworn testimony, Rothstein claimed he donated money to Crist's campaign in exchange for an appointment.

Crist had tapped Rothstein to the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourth District Court of Appeal and the Broward Circuit Court.

“He knew how that game was played. I expected him to do certain things in exchange for large contributions,” Rothstein told a defense attorney Thursday in a federal courtroom in West Palm Beach.

Rothstein has since been disbarred. Rothstein his currently serving 50 years for a Ponzi scheme.

Peter Schorsch is someone familiar with readers of this blog. Michael Pinson filed a complaint with the Florida Bar against Schorsch. The complaint cites Schorsch's run-ins with the law.

The only reason I can think that Rich isn't bringing up Crist's colorful friends is she is secretly resigned to Crist becoming the Democratic nominee and doesn't want to upset the Florida Democratic establishment. If Rich was really trying to win she would be pointing out Crist's connection to Greer, Rothstein and Schorsch 24/7. Candidates that are behind go negative. Candidates that are just running for self-promotion is more worried about media exposure than winning. This explains Rich's obsession with a television debate.

Peter Schorsch Brags on Facebook

My good friend Peter Schorsch has posted this wonderful message on Facebook. Apparently, the Pinellas Sheriff's Office has dismissed the complaint Michael Pinson filed against Schorsch. My dear friend is wondering why The Tampa Bay Times hasn't patted Schorsch on the back. It might be because The Times has a highly negative view of Schorsch. Adam Smith wrote this about Schorsch.

Still, for his very campaign event Crist turned to Scorsch who routinely and unapologetically lies publicly to the press, who owes nearly $68,000 in outstanding fines to the Florida Elections Commission, who six years pleaded no contest to grand thef and scheming to defraud charges. Really?

Ouch.

Schorsch has written highly negative blog posts about conservative activist Michael Pinson. Schorsch then asked Pinson for payment to remove these posts. It is all in the Florida Bar complaint Pinson filed against Schorsch's former attorney Paul Phillips.

The document below contains messages between Pinson and Phillips on the removal of posts. Phillips even claimed that Schorsch would delete a negative post about him on Pushing Rope. The post was later deleted after it was discovered in the Florida Bar complaint that Schorsch, Phillips and their friend Chris Kapper were sources of a negative WTSP story. From the Bar complaint.

“I did provide the information in that email to my client [Peter Schorsch], and any news stories which occurred based on that information, complaints filed with the State of Florida, were done by my client and Channel 10 News Personnel.”- Paul Phillips, Florida Bar Complaint, TFB No.: 2013-10,093 (13E)

There is no law against Schorsch writing negatively against Pinson and then seeking payment to remove the post. I don't know another blogger who would even consider doing such a thing. Libel is a hard thing to proof in a court of law. Ironically, Schorsch has repeatedly threatened me with libel suits. If Schorsch having a criminal investigation against dismissed is a victory then he can knock himself out. To me it seems like a hollow victory.

Phillips - Additional Info - Part 1 by Michael Robert Hussey

Justin Snyder on St. Pete Polls and Peter Schorsch

Justin Snyder wrote a piece on the connection between St. Pete Polls and political consultant/blogger Peter Schorsch. Snyder questions if St. Pete Polls is truly unbiased.

Republican Congressman Bill Young on October 18th of last year. Yesterday, St Pete Polls released a poll that the folks over at Daily Kos Elections had a field day with. It’s comically skewed towards Republicans (naturally) and prominent blogger Peter Schorsch (whom by the way has written scripts for St Pete Polls in the past, and currently has his own fights in the ethics department as reported in the Tampa Bay Times), covered the release of the poll with a soft piece that (naturally) DID NOT mention the gleaming disparity in the sample: the number of Republicans and Democrats that were actually polled.

The Voter Registration numbers in Florida’s 13th Congressional District per the Florida Division of Elections, tell us that the district is in fact 37 percent Republican, 35 percent Democratic, and 24 percent independent. However, St Pete Polls’ OWN WEBSITE tells us that the poll was conducted with a 47-35 bias in favor of Republicans. Yeah, let that sink in. I’m calling shenanigans.

Daily Kos notes that St. Pete Polls was off the mark on the last congressional elections. St. Pete Polls predicted victories for Allen West and David Rivera.

FL-02: St. Pete: Southerland (R) 47-47; actual: Southerland (R) 53-47; error: +6 D

FL-09: St. Pete: Grayson (D) 45-40; actual: Grayson (D) 63-37; error: +21 R

FL-10: St. Pete: Webster (R) 50-42; actual: Webster (R) 52-48; error: +4 R

FL-13: St. Pete: Young (R) 54-37; actual: Young (R) 58-42; error: +1 R

FL-16: St. Pete: Buchanan (R) 55-38; actual: Buchanan (R) 54-46; error: +9 R

FL-18: St. Pete: West (R) 51-42; actual: Murphy (D) 50.3-49.7; error: +9.6 R

FL-22: St. Pete: Frankel (D) 48-45; actual: Frankel (D) 55-45; error: +7 R

FL-26: St. Pete: Rivera (R) 46-43; actual: Garcia (D) 54-43; error: +14 R

Schorsch has used St. Pete Polls to write a very flattering piece about how David Jolly is ahead of Democratic opponent Alex Sink. Jolly also happens to be currently running an ad on St. Petersblog. Schorsch's former client Frank Farkas accused Schorsch of offering positive coverage in exchange for blog ad revenue.

Around October 2012, then-state House candidate Farkas said Schorsch called him. The blogger told him he would carefully screen what content related to Farkas appeared on his site if the politician signed an ad contract. "We didn't sign and I got what I expected: one-sided, slanted," Farkas said. "He stabs so many people in the back, and he continues to get away with it."

Conservative blogger Javier Manjarres noted that Schorsch wrote extremely positive posts about Southern Group Strategy after they bought an ad on a website owned by Schorsch. Southern Strategy Group has been accused of manipulating their earnings to increase their stock price. Schorsch has written about the Christmas card Southern Strategy Group sent out but made no mention of the controversy surrounding the lobbying firm.

Take St. Pete Polls and what Schorsch writes about his clients with skepticism.

Peter Schorsch Once Again Threatens Me With A Libel Suit

Letter to Michael Hussey

This is nothing more than a SLAPP suit. Schorsch should consider statements he made in the comment of this blog before going down this road. Schorsch admitted to having a "blood feud" with Jack Hebert and "hooking up" with Herbert's teenage daughter. I would hardly think that Herbert would want to give Schorsch a raise for those actions.

First and foremost, is my blood feud against political consultant Jack Hebert. I mean, I hooked up with his daughter, for goodness.

If I can see documentation of the ruling of Schorsch's grand theft charges I will be happy to make changes for journalistic accuracy. I certainly won't take Schorsch's word for it. However, I will most certainly not have Schorsch dictate what can or can't be written on this blog. Keep in mind that Adam Smith of The Tampa Bay Times has accused Schorsch of "unapologetically lies" and has written unflatteringly about Schorsch's grand theft history.

Still, for his very campaign event Crist turned to Scorsch who routinely and unapologetically lies publicly to the press, who owes nearly $68,000 in outstanding fines to the Florida Elections Commission, who six years pleaded no contest to grand thief and scheming to defraud charges. Really?

Schorsch will lose in court. End of story. Schorsch should know since former Hillsborough County commissioner Brian Blair attempted to sue Schorsch for libel. Schorsch repeatedly called Blair a douche. That certainly seems malicious to me.

Furthermore, I have posted corrections and posted Schorsch's objections to the post in question. I will post his statement again.

The $68,000 is a civil fine stemming from the Florida Election Commission, and is not in any way connected to the grand theft charge.

Also, you state that the grand theft charge was a "conviction"; in fact, adjudication was withheld, therefore no conviction exists.

To state that someone has been convicted of something when they were not and you have been informed that they were not is a libelous offense.

If I am so malicious why did I post Schorsch's complaints about my post. I been a lot fairer to Schorsch than he has on the people he has attacked on his blog and on campaigns he worked on. This is a man who admitted to paying homeless people to heckle political candidate Kathleen Ford and fired from Jamie Bennett's campaign for giving free Tampa Rays baseball tickets in hopes of a political contribution. If Peter Schorsch thinks he has problems with his reputation then he should look in the mirror.

The Peter Schorsch Files

This is the Florida Bar complaint documents that Michael Pinson filed against Peter Schorsch's attorney Paul Phillips. The complaint was dismissed. Phillips admitted in a written statement that they were two off-the-record sources for very questionable hit piece story by Noah Pransky of WTSP. Pransky is friends with Schorsch and Phillips. Peter Schorsch has a criminal history. Pransky should be asked why he would trust the word of someone with Schorsch's troubled history.

Phillips - Additional Info - Part 2 by Michael Robert Hussey

Object_3B7792_0 by Michael Robert Hussey

Object 348D1E 0 by Michael Robert Hussey

Peter Schorsch's Criminal History

Michael Pinson listed Peter Schorsch's wonderful criminal history in his bar complaint against attorney Paul Phillips. The complaint was dismissed but there is wonderful information in the complaint.

Schorsch has been cited for numerous criminal and civil wrong doings over the past five years. He has nine Civil Judgments against him and two criminal arrests with time being served.

Why anyone political figure would hire Schorsch as a political consultant is beyond me.

Stay Classy Peter Schorsch

Javier Manjarres and I don't often agree on politics. I do think Manjarres is one of the best conservative bloggers around. Manjarres as been writing a lot about how Peter Schorsch makes money. Manjarres wrote that Schorsch has been posting highly positive posts about Southern Strategy Group after the lobbying firm advertised on SaintPetersblog. Southern Strategy Group is being audited after their accounting came into question. You wouldn't know that from reading Peter Schorsch's blog.

In 2012, white-shoe lobbying firm Southern Strategy Group rang in an impressive $2.54 million in lobbying fees during the second quarter. Fast-forward a year and add nearly $1 million to that figure for a total of $3.41 million in quarterly compensation. The increase over last year represents more than what most other lobby firms generate in full.

Of course, Schorsch fails to mention that those numbers may have been blown up by Southern Strategy Group. Hence the reason for the audit. Schorsch even posted the hard hitting news story on Southern Strategy's Christmas card. I kid you not.

Here is this year’s Christmas card from powerhouse lobbying firm Southern Strategies Group.

Each year, SSG commissions and delivers the most talked-about Christmas card in Tallahassee, typically with a political theme making hay out of one of the year’s top stories. This year is no different as the card pokes fun at the scandal surrounding President Obama and the aggressive surveillance programs of the National Security Agency. There’s some good photoshop work of President Obama dressed in a Santa outfit and a reveal line of, “He sees you when you are sleeping/He knows when you are awake/In 2014, be good for goodness sake.”

Powerhouse lobbying firm? Seriously? How can anyone take Schorsch seriously?

Apparently, Manjarres blogging has gotten to Schorsch. Schorsch fired off this racist tweet.

By the way, @THESHARKTANK1, the redesign of your website looks like shit. An illiterate lawn boy could have done better. Oh wait...

— Peter Schorsch (@SaintPetersblog) January 6, 2014

Schorsch will defend himself by saying that Manjarres once ran a lawn care service. Make no mistake. Schorsch is attacking Marjarres' Hispanic heritage. If someone leveled that kind of attack on Schorsch he would threaten a libel lawsuit. For someone who makes his living as a political hit man Schorsch can't seem to take a shot.

Peter Schorsch Still Sending Emails To Me

I get this gem from Peter Schorsch.

The $68,000 is a civil fine stemming from the Florida Election Commission, and is not in any way connected to the grand theft charge.

Also, you state that the grand theft charge was a "conviction"; in fact, adjudication was withheld, therefore no conviction exists.

To state that someone has been convicted of something when they were not and you have been informed that they were not is a libelous offense.

This may or may not be true. Peter Schorsch is a pathological liar. Peter Schorsch publicly and repeatedly has called Brian Blair and Michael Pinson douche bage online. Schorsch has a history of running false attacks against political opponents. Worst of all, Schorsch was fired by his former employer Jack Hebert, for dating his Heberts teenage daughter. Schorsch was in his late twenties when he dated Hebert's daughter. Schorsch even bragged about it in the comments section of this blog.

First and foremost, is my blood feud against political consultant Jack Hebert. I mean, I hooked up with his daughter, for goodness.

Schorsch sent this wonderful email statement he was never going to send another email last month.

Alright, Michael, there's no convincing you. I accept that. You think you have something, so keep chewing away.

I will quit you from here on out. It's clear you can't read. I know Javier is illiterate and couldn't read, I did not know you couldn't.

As for your questions, who. The. Fuck. Are. You. To. Question. Me.

You could write that I slept with Rick Scott and you'll never hear from me.

Except maybe in court. None of my enemies have ever won against me in the long term. You won't either.

People, there is nothing scary about this little man. And Peter Schorsch is a very little man. Schorsch isn't a brilliant political consultant. He is just a small-time grifter who uses his blog to squeeze money out of people.

Question of the Day: How Can Peter Schorsch Afford his Lifestyle: Updated With Corrections

Peter Schorsch still owes nearly $68,000.00 in fines from a grand theft conviction. How is Schorsch able to afford to reserve the Green Bench Brewing Co. and a Jimmy's Meatballs food truck for his birthday.

This fine has been hanging over Schorsch's head for half a decade. Schorsch has barely made a dent in the money he owes to pay off the fine. Most people in Schorsch's position would be living in a cardboard box right now. Yet, Schorsch is able to afford to throw lavish parties for himself. Something is not right.

I got a new libel suit threat letter from Peter Schorsch. It appears Schorsch has a new attorney who send much more polite emails. That is greatly appreciated. I will never let Peter Schorsch have editorial control over this blog. I will make proper changes. This is from a 2007 St. Petersburg Times article.

Then, in 2006, Schorsch was arrested on charges he stole nearly $10,000 from the Democratic club, and from Ed Helm and Eve Joy, who ran for mayor and a seat on the St. Petersburg City Council, respectively, in 2005.

Schorsch took their money and did no work.

After pleading no contest, he was sentenced to two years of house arrest and three years of probation, during which he was prohibited from working in campaigns.

In the same article Eve Joy called Schorsch a "felon." Joy pressed the charges against Schorsch.

"In my opinion, he's a felon," said Joy. "He should have been adjudicated as such, but I think everybody has to move on."

Aside from its background in politics, Bartlett said the case was handled as other similar theft cases might have been.

To Joy's disappointment the charge against Schorsch was adjudicated. It should noted Schorsch was sentenced to house arrest and had to pay a fine. However, Schorsch was never declared innocent by the court.

Schorsch made complaints to me that he was not fired by Jack Hebert. Sources have told me otherwise. Part of the reason for Schorsch termination was Schorsch dating Herbert's then high school daughter.

In 2003, Schorsch had a falling out with the firm's founder and principal, Jack Hebert. The disagreement stemmed at least partly from Schorsch's decision to date Hebert's high school daughter, Schorsch said.

Somehow I doubt Mr. Herbert was going to offer Schorsch a raise. If Mr. Hebert tells me that Schorsch quit I will be happy to make corrections.

SaintPetersGate Redux

Peter Schorsch sent me an email claiming that his former attorney Paul Phillips made no statement to the Florida Bar Association. So I am to believe that Pinson lied to the Florida Bar about Phillips making a sworn statement to the Florida Bar. That doesn't pass the laugh test. Conservative blogger Javier Manjarres found this gem in the Florida Bar complaint.

“I did provide the information in that email to my client [Peter Schorsch], and any news stories which occurred based on that information, complaints filed with the State of Florida, were done by my client and Channel 10 News Personnel.”- Paul Phillips, Florida Bar Complaint, TFB No.: 2013-10,093 (13E)

I saw this same statement by Phillips in a document leaked to me. When I asked Schorsch and Phillips about the leaked document they threatened me with a libel suit. It is no secret that Schorsch dislikes Conservative activist Michael Pinson. It is no secret that Schorsch will go after people who don't support Charlie Crist. According to Pinson in the complaint, he dropped his support for Crist and supported Marco Rubio's Senate campaign. It wouldn't surprise me if that is how the feud actually started.

My interest in the Florida Bar complaint was the media angle. Noah Pransky is friends with Schorsch, Phillips and Chris Kapper. Pransky used three men who were friends and disliked Pinson. Adam Smith of accused Schorsch of being a serial liar to the media. The fact that Pransky would use Schorsch as a source for the Pinson story should be called into question.

There is also the allegations by Tampa politicians that Schorsch threatened to keep writibg negative posts on SaintPetersBlog if they didn't pay a for an ad on the blog. Pinson wad one of the people presented with a contract. The contract was negotiated on Schorsch's behave by Phillips. The contract presented to Pinson is part of a Pinellas Sheriff's Office investigation into Schorsch.

Peter Schorsch is a disgrace to political blogging and represents everything that is bad about politics. Schorsch needs to be disappear from blogging and politics forever. If Schorsch is still working as a shadow agent for the Charlie Crist campaign then Crist needs to come clean. If not then Crist's judgment is called into question.

Peter Schorsch Has No Control Over Pushing Rope

This is from a text message Paul Phillips sent to Michael Pinson. There was talk about deleting the Noah Pransky story from this blog. I am not sure how Peter Schorsch planned to pull that off.

PHILLIPS: Peter is reviewing now. He has no control over pushing rope however, but we can check.

Please do. Pinson ended up never signing the contract. The Tampa Bay Times reported that notarized and signed by Schorsch.

Breaking: Florida Bar Complaint Proves Schorsch & Phillips Source For WTSP Story

Here it is boys and girls. The Florida Bar complaint proves that Paul Phillips and Peter Schorsch were off-the-record sources for Noah Pransky's WTSP negative hit piece on the Michael Pinson Foundation. Phillips admitted under oath that both Schorsch and him were sources for the WTSP story.

The bar complaint itself was dismissed. It is not illegal for Peter Schorsch and Paul Phillips to talk to the media. What should be noted is Schorsch has been accused of repeatedly lying to the media by Adam Smith of Tampa Bay Times.

Still, for his very campaign event Crist turned to Schorsch who routinely and unapologetically lies publicly to the press, who owes nearly $68,000 in outstanding fines to the Florida Elections Commission, who six years pleaded no contest to grand thef and scheming to defraud charges. Really?

Pinson claimed in the Florida Bar complaint that Noah Pransky attended Schorsch's wedding. Pransky would not answer that on-the-record. I asked Schorsch if he knew Chris Kapper. Schorsch would not comment. Kapper made an on-the-record claim that Pinson was using charity money to host hot tub parties. No second source verified this story in Pransky's new piece. Schorsch is Facebook friends with Kapper.

Kapper thanked Pransky for his "activism on Facebook. I have no idea of the context of the quote.

In the Florida Bar complaint Schorsch and Phillips admit to knowing Kapper.

There is a lot more in the complaint but it is obvious that the WTSP story is garbage.

Paul Phillips Freaks Out On Twitter

Hey kids, Paul Phillips, the attorney threatening to sue me for libel, is in the middle of a flame war on Twitter.

@PaulPhillipsEsq @pushingrope @JohnPContiTPA I want your document, with typos #yougetwhatyoupayfor

— Javier Manjarres (@THESHARKTANK1) December 3, 2013

The flame war is still going on. Phillips says he is willing to give the Florida Bar complaint to anyone who stops by his office. I remember this less than friendly email from Phillips.

Based on an emaeil I received, I thought a few things should be made clear.

Pinson’s bar complaint against me was dismissed with no probable cause and remains, therefore, confidential within the bar system. Providing the contents to any person outside the system opens those individuals up to lawsuits. Because Mr. Pinson’s com"plaint was filled with untruths and lies, any publishing of such document would be actionable. I can ensure you I will use all avenues available to me should any unsubstantiated accusation of that complaint be used in any form.

Now I get this email from Phillips.

If you wanted the bar complaint and my response, just ask. Instead, you take the path all bloggers take and try to make something out of nothing, try to create some appearance of impropriety, and end up defaming an attorney with a clean record. That is just uncool. I have tried to be reasonable here.

My address is below. Call before you come and I can have copies made for you. You just have to post my response, and make it very clear that the complaint was dismissed for no probable cause because the accusations had not merit. That is the issue with defamation. Not spelling errors (which came from your bad copy paste and not from my email).

By posting one side of a complaint - that was dismissed without merit - and not clearly stating that it was dismissed, is irresponsible and the courts will find on my side (I have case law that shows it pretty clear). As a blogger who asserts that he is media, I can give you some free legal advice here. If you know the whole story, or have been given credible evidence contradicting a source, then you have to show both sides. Otherwise, you are open to lawsuits. What most people don’t realize is that lawsuits last a very long time, a year or more, and are very expensive, and any lawyer will want to get paid along the way for their work. I see bills all day long and they are 5 figures.

Again, I have been very reasonable, but your responses to my emails and posts about them have been irresponsible. Either you are not reading these emails in their entirety, or you are purposely taking things out of context to draw readership or something. I don’t know.

I seem to remember reading that part about Phillips threatening to sue me if I published any part of the Florida Bar complaint. Perhaps Phillips has a different definition of "reasonable" than I do. I think I am going to pass on that offer of legal advice. Phillips has threatened to sue for for libel. One of the reasons is pointing out the typos in his email.

Additionally, besides being sent with a disclaimer explaining that the November 22, 2013 email was to remain confidential, you posted an incorrect version of the November 22, 2013 email. The email sent to you does not contain the errors shown in your post. Instead, your post states:

The email with typos is posted above and here. Is Phillips serious? I still have the email. This will be laughed out of court.

What I am investigating is the WTSP story about the Michael Pinson Foundation and the accusations that Peter Schorsch pressured political official into paying for positive coverage on SaintPetersblog. Phillips was Schorsch's attorney for these contracts. Phillips told me in an email that no longer represents Schorsch. The Tampa Bay Times broke the story. Pinson was one of the people that told TBT about the contract he never signed. Phillips drew up the contract.

What kind of guy is Phillips. Phillips fire off this tweet at Javier Manjarres' Hispanic heritage.

you need to go back to mowing lawns buddy. Rhetoric not your thing. Partial truths, red herrings, ad hominems. Wow.

@THESHARKTANK1 you need to go back to mowing lawns buddy. Rhetoric not your thing. Partial truths, red herrings, ad hominems. Wow.

— Paul Phillips (@PaulPhillipsEsq) December 3, 2013

Pathetic.

GOP Consultant Peter Schorsch Threatens Me With Libel Lawsuit

I continue to get threatened by Peter Schorsch and his attorney Phillips. Schorsch sent this email to me.

I am going to share with you ... the cover letter which clearly shows the proposed settlement came from Pinson's attorney not mine.

With this, you will be informed that what you have said to date is clearly wrong and, in our opinion, defamatory and libelous.

Therefore, you should delete any post or Tweet that is counter to the fact that Pinson initiated contact or you will be subject to a legal proceeding.

Michael, on a personal level, you have backed the wrong horse here. I truly suggest you look at your work and clean it up before Monday because that's when the legal action gets underway.

Please govern yourself accordingly.

Michael Pinson and several other Florida political officials told the  Tampa Bay Times that Schorsch told then he would stop writing negative posts and deleting negative posts if they would pay a financial fee. TBT Reported that Schorsch came to Pinson with the contract.

The reinvigorated criminal inquiry into Schorsch stems from accusations made by Pinson, a Republican activist who over the last three years Schorsch has frequently criticized and mocked online. Pinson supplied a contract to the Times that Schorsch had presented him in May 2012. In it, Schorsch requested that Pinson pay him $3,200 in order for the blogger to delete all references to Pinson from his websites —and to write nothing more about him for the following three years.

The contract called for a $1,000 bonus if anything Schorsch wrote about Pinson didn't appear in the first 30 online search results.

The contract is notarized and signed by Schorsch. The Times met with the notary, who confirmed its legitimacy.

There was this gem from the TBT article.

More than a half-dozen people contacted by the Times declined to comment on Schorsch, esveral saying they feared retribution.

A source backed to me the TBT account of that Schorsch approached Pinson. I have posted the contract. You can see that Schorsch signed the contract and Pinson did not. One has to ask if this was Pinson's idea then why didn't he sign the contract.

I have asked Schorsch and his attorney Paul Phillips about a possible deposition that reveals if they were off-the-record sources of a negative WTSP story against Pinson. I also asked if a deposition relating the the WTSP story existed. The result was Phillips threatening me in a poorly written email. I am confused. If no depostion took place with the Florida Bar Association then why is Phillips threatening me with a lawsuit.  I tried to confirm with Phillips if a document I saw was a deposition and get an on-the-record comment.

It should be noted that Schorsch and Phillips did not offer a comment to me if they were off-the-record sources in the highly negative WTSP story about the Michael Pinson Foundation. Schorsch and Phillips would not say on-the-record if they knew Chris Kapper. No second source backed Kapper's allegation in the WTSP story. Kapper has worked with Phillips on activities relating to the Republican Party of Hillsborough County Board.

I will fact-check the document Schorsch sent me. I am not going to take Schorsch's word at face value. Schorsch has previously pleaded no contest to grand theft and was fined by the Florida Elections Commission for $64,000.

Update: the post was corrected to reflect that Schorsch pleaded no contest to grand theft. My Blogger app didn't upload the corrected post last night.

Tweet of the Day: SaintPetersGate Edition

I guess Peter would know. RT @ContextFL: Peter Schorsch: Radel's arrest evidence that 'War on Drugs' is lost #sayfie http://t.co/tLBJf4Q1M1

— Bradley Erickson (@bradleyerickson) November 25, 2013

Ouch. Bradley Erickson is having fun with Peter Schorsch's very colorful history. Schorsch has a history with Florida's criminal justice system. Schorsch also made this quote to explain away his behavior.

"I am not an elected official, I've never asked for (their) public trust, so if I drink too much, eat too much, snort too much, fight too much ... or do too much of whatever else, then I do that at my own peril."

In Schorsch's defense, he might be talking about snorting sugar. Hey, sugar is tasty.

Media Should Ask Charlie Crist About Peter Schorsch

Charlie Crist will speak to the media tomorrow.

WHAT: Governor Charlie Crist holds a media availability

WHERE: Outside the West Palm Beach Train Station, 209 S Tamarind Ave, West Palm Beach, FL

WHEN: 1:00 PM on Friday, November 22, 2013.

The media and activists should ask why Crist has allowed Peter Schorsch to be involved with his campaign. Schorsch owes the Florida Elections Commission $68,000.00, has pleaded no contest to grand theft, has had run-ins with the IRS, and is currently the focus of an online harassment investigation. Yet Crist tapped Schorsch to help set-up his campaign kickoff. I think this requires an explanation on the part of Crist.

Quote of the Day

"Still, for his very campaign event Crist turned to Scorsch who routinely and unapologetically lies publicly to the press, who owes nearly $68,000 in outstanding fines to the Florida Elections Commission, who six years pleaded no contest to grand thef and scheming to defraud charges. Really?"

Adam Smith, Tampa Bay Times political reporter on the wisdom of Charlie Crist having Peter Schorsch work on his campaign.

Peter Schorsch Contract Drawn Up For Michael Pinson

This is the contract that conservative activist Michael Pinson said Peter Schorsch and his attorney drew up for Pinson. Pinson was quoted in the Tampa Bay Times article about Schorsch titled "Cash for coverage? Questions arise about local political blogger Peter Schorsch."

Schorsch said his attorney drew up the contract but said it was at Pinson's request. Schorsch said the activist had repeatedly harassed him and his family.

He said he offered the deal "just so this insane lunatic of a person would go away."

Pinson, who was mentioned for an open Pinellas congressional seat, said he didn't pay Schorsch, and the attacks continued. Just three months later, in a Twitter exchange with someone Schorsch seemed to believe Pinson knew, Schorsch said this: "Tell Michael I said hi. Just think for 5K he could've made all of this go away. Wait till u see 'The Douchebag Returns' story."

Schorsch's idea of doing Pinson a favor and making him go away was to have Pinson pay Schorsch $3,200.00. That is an interesting concept of who is doing who a favor. Hey, I would be doing you a favor if I took $3,200.00 of your money.

Below is the contract Schorsch and his attorney drew up for Pinson. Pinson told TBT that he never signed the contract. Pushing Rope and Ybor City Stogie are mentioned in the contract. To make matters clear. Pushing Rope has no involvement with Peter Schorsch.

Peter Schroch Demand Agreement for $4000 by Michael Robert Hussey

Did Peter Schorsch Plant False Story About Michael Pinson Charity

A source told me that Peter Schorsch planted a false story to Noah Pransky, of WTSP, about Michael Pinson's charity. I blogged about Pinson's charity and now question the source of Pransky's story.

.@noahpransky I have a question about who was your source for the Michael Pinson charity story. I have been told it is Peter Schorsch. True?

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) November 19, 2013

Do me a favor and politely ask Pransky on Twitter who was the source of his story on Pinson's charity. WTSP did report on Pinson's charity helping out after the storm hit Haiti. I don't know Pinson personally but after recent events I feel it is best to delete my post on Pinson's charity and question the who the source of Pransky's story is. My apologies to the people involved with the Michael Pinson Foundation.

Update: I sent a second tweet to Pransky.

.@noahpransky Nothing personal but I am not going off the record on this. Who was your source. If this person burned you than why protect?

— Michael Hussey (@pushingrope) November 19, 2013

Background: yesterday I blogged about Schorsch being investigated for payola accusations of writing favorable posts and deleting negative posts, if politicos would pay for advertising on SaintPetersblog.