Posted on 06/01/2013 2:46:01 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Congressman Joe Garcia’s chief of staff abruptly resigned Friday after being implicated in a sophisticated scheme to manipulate last year’s primary elections by submitting hundreds of fraudulent absentee-ballot requests.
Friday afternoon, Garcia said he had asked Jeffrey Garcia, no relation, for his resignation after the chief of staff — also the congressman’s top political strategist — took responsibility for the plot. Hours earlier, law enforcement investigators raided the homes of another of Joe Garcia’s employees and a former campaign aide in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation into the matter.
“I’m shocked and disappointed about this,” Garcia, who said he was unaware of the scheme, told The Miami Herald. “This is something that hit me from left field. Until today, I had no earthly idea this was going on.”
Jeffrey Garcia, 40, declined to comment. He also worked last year on the campaign of Democrat Patrick Murphy of Jupiter, who unseated tea-party Republican congressman Allen West. Murphy has not been implicated in the phantom-requests operation.
The Miami-Dade state attorney’s office, seeking electronic equipment such as computers, served search warrants Friday at the homes of Giancarlo Sopo, 30, Joe Garcia’s communications director; and John Estes, 26, his 2012 campaign manager. Neither Estes nor Sopo responded to requests for comment.
A third search warrant was also executed, though it wasn’t clear where.
Joe Garcia said he would likely put Sopo on administrative leave for the time being.
The raids marked a sign of significant progress in the probe that prosecutors reopened in February, after a Herald investigation found that hundreds of 2,552 fraudulent requests for the Aug. 14 primaries originated from Internet Protocol addresses in Miami. The bulk of the requests were masked by foreign IP addresses.
(Excerpt) Read more at miamiherald.com ...
“Until today, I had no earthly idea this was going on.”
Is this what they all say? Guess so, it worked for Obama...
Well, well, well. Good job, Miami Herald!!
Why should we have any faith in this last election? Why should we have any faith in any of the congressional investigations? We can’t be sure they are seated there by an honest election. The IRS and all varied cheating and corruption went on. I no longer recognize this congress or this president as elected.
Hopefully West is on top of this.
“He also worked last year on the campaign of Democrat Patrick Murphy of Jupiter, who unseated tea-party Republican congressman Allen West. Murphy has not been implicated in the phantom-requests operation.” At this time....
BTTT
It surely was hard finding the word “Democrat” in that article. I had to use control+f and put it in the search bar. ONE mention, and that mention is of the other candidate this guy worked for.
Good job, media. Hiding the truth.
You mean the Congressman is a Democrat as well? how could you tell?
Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Fla 26)I thought was the standard. /s
This is the modern? default meme, if the party is minimally mentioned to no mention, it is obviously a Democrat, trumpeted and emphasized, a Republican! If it is used to smear an entire class/race, then it is a conservative Republican or Tea Party member (and as such, an implied Republican).
Journalism School basics 101 with peer group reinforcement at every gathering (official and social). Employment tested by such official party organs as the NYTimes, ABCBSNBC and the rest of the usual suspects.
What’s so hard? When the party WASN’T in the headline I knew it was a dim.
You’re right. I now believe Romney won the election but the Dems stole it. After IRS and Benghazi is it so hard to believe?
After the election, I gave a hard time to some Freepers who sat it out.
There is a developing chance I'll sit out, rather than participate any further in the growing charade, this farce of what is supposed to be limited, republican government. As the screws tighten on our liberties, I suspect more of us will refuse to endorse, to stop sanctioning a hardening tyranny.
Only the drug trade rivals politics for ruthlessness, corruption and return on investment.
In the case of LTC West’s loss, it was more than obvious he was the victim of massive fraud.
The Miami Herald plays “hide the rat”.
TYPICAL
Not once did this article tell us that he is a RAT. The only mention was that he worked for a RAT in the past.
Not only are you right, google the guy and see how many references you get and how almost none have “D” in the headline or excerpt under the headline.
If he were a repub, REPUBLICAN would be in every other paragraph.
Jeffrey Garcia should be lynched and his body left to swing from a palm tree.
His death is required as an example to all....... screw with the Republic and you die
I refuse to be bound by the results of a demonstrably corrupt system.
Anyone care to join me?
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