Crist Approved Diversion of GOP Funds, Says Former Florida Party Chair and Alleged Fraudster

Jim Greer, no not that Jim Greer, says that Governor Crist knew all about his confidential fundraising role with the state party.

"You guys work hard. You deserve it,'' Chase said Greer was told by the governor as they played pool in February 2009 at a Palm Beach golf tournament.

Crist, an independent candidate for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat, said Saturday that he didn't know about Victory Strategies until after Greer resigned in January. He said he knew Greer wanted to replace O'Rourke with Johnson, but was unaware that they set up a separate company and that Greer had a stake in it.

"Jim thought a change would be a good idea and I said, 'Whatever you think needs to be done, and if you need to bring in Delmar, that's fine,' " Crist said.

Greer has been charged with money laundering and fraud, while Crist and Sen. George LeMieux run for cover.

I don't know whether there's any truth to this and obviously Greer isn't a credible source for anything. Still, there's actually a bit of karmic justice to this story. All of it came out after Crist charged Marco Rubio with financial irregularities. The ensuing investigation by federal authorities turned up irregularities all right--with Crist-aligned establishment politicos like Jim Greer.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 06:25 PM

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