Posted on 02/06/2014 6:42:06 PM PST by jazusamo
Charlie Crist, the former Republican governor of Florida now seeking his old seat as a Democrat, has received the worst type of attention at the start of his campaign: a jilted former fundraiser testifying under oath that judicial nominations were up for sale on Mr. Crist’s watch.
The testimony this week by Scott Rothstein, a onetime Crist fundraiser and prominent lawyer convicted of running a $1.4 billion Ponzi scheme, stunned court observers across Florida and rocked Mr. Crist’s nascent candidacy to oust Republican incumbent Gov. Rick Scott.
Rothstein did not appear in court for several years after his 2010 guilty plea but emerged as a defense witness in a former legal colleague’s trial. He wasted no time dishing the dirt on Mr. Crist, prompting furious denials from the Democratic candidate and his campaign.
Rothstein testified that as a fundraiser he had a “quid pro quo” relationship in which he was able to encourage Mr. Crist, then the Florida governor, to name judges to the bench in Broward County who would rule favorably for his law firm.
“For certain contributions, people were appointed to the bench ,” Rothstein said in testimony reported by local news media. “I was able to convince him to do a lot of things. He knew how that game was played. I expected him to do certain things in exchange for large contributions.”
Rothstein, who was sentenced to 50 years in prison, also testified that he used his position on a commission that nominated judges for the 4th District Court of Appeals to suggest judicial appointees Mr. Crist wanted, even though the selection process was supposed to be based on merit and free of political influence.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Please! Please! Let this be true! And let us Floridians be forever FREE of Charlie Crist!
Excellent news! I’m no huge fan of Scott, but I do not want any authority given to Crist and the Dems. This hopefully will sink him.
In fact,.... perhaps this will prompt Nelson to jump in and try to save the day? Senator West follows that!
I hear you...Just checked and there’s articles in FL papers.
I guess all that “glitters” isn’t just an orange suntan!
Isn’t Rod Blagovich spending time at club fed for the same thing ?
He’s in the slammer for bribery so it’s got to be pretty close to the same thing.
Maybe charlie will spend some time in prison too. We can hope.
He just might enjoy the prison lifestyle.
Let’s not get too excited. After all, isn’t Crist running as a Dem? This could get swept under the rug, after some early sensationalism.
True, Crist’s people have already started on Rothstein, he’s a “con man and liar.”
I sent the story to a lib I know. They just make excuses that Scott has done bad stuff too.
Maybe charlie will spend some time in prison too. We can hope.
He make someone a nice “wife”
Charlie’s a democrat now... the bar’s MUCH lower now that he’s NOT a Republican.
Back up a couple of post and hang your head.
I see prison in Charlie’s future!
Years ago, I took a Criminology class, and one of our field trips was a tour of Raiford, the Florida State Prison.
EVERY young person should get such a tour — crime rate would go WAAAAAAAY down, IMHO!
Charlie will not like Raiford!
See my #17.
Rothstein got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and is not going down by himself!
I wonder who else he can take down with him?
I’m rooting for Rothstein!
But will Raiford like Charlie?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.