UPDATED: Crist downplays ties to Rothstein
by Michael C. Bender | November 5th, 2009
From right to left: Crist, Rothstein, Wayne Huizenga at the 2008 Governor's Bowl with Charlie Crist at Dolphin Stadium. (blacktie-southflorida.com)
Interview with Gov. Crist about Scott Rothstein. Note: Audio was edited to remove unrelated questions and some confusion during an elevator malfunction.
Graphic: Tainted Crist donors, fundraisers
Graphic: Rothstein: A lavish life in the fast lane
TALLAHASSEE — Republican Gov. Charlie Crist attempted Wednesday to distance himself from a Fort Lauderdale attorney accused of raiding and swindling his way to what could be a $500 million payday.
Crist also denied any problems for his U.S. Senate campaign after Scott Rothstein became his third major political fundraiser entangled in scandal in the past year.
“I don’t think it will affect it at all,” Crist said. “Because I’ve done nothing wrong.”
But three fund-raisers involved in corruption allegations will give Crist’s political opponents an easy target, said Lynn University political science professor Robert Watson.
“If it was a coincidence before, it looks like a pattern now,” said Watson, a Democratic U.S. House candidate in 2005.
Rest of the story here.
Background: Why we care about Scott Rothstein
Tags: Alan Mendelsohn, Charlie Crist, corruption, Harry Sargeant, Scott Rothstein



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November 4th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
[...] Across Florida What’s happening on other political blogs? « Crist downplays ties to Rothstein [...]
November 4th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
check rothstein’s cell phone records and crists’ cell phone records. they had each other on speed dial.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
Well, just look at the photo on today’s PB Post Web issue. It’s a psychologist’s dream. This guy is a greedy, selfish nutcase. Who on earth
would think so much of themselves (or so little) that they would pose with their overdone, ridiculous watches for a photograph!! Anyone who saw that photo who didn’t run as fast as they could away from this clown deserves whatever happens to them. What a creep.
November 4th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Gov. Crist was NOT aware of any of this nor was Steve Abrams…
Welcome to Florida! A CORRUPT STATE!
WEISS & HANDLER of Boca Raton another CORRUPT UNETHICAL LAW OFFICE…
HANDLER & WEISS ARE WORSE - MUCH WORSE!!! CROOKS, LIARS and CRIMINALS..
Ask Judge Diana Lewis? She is Close to Weiss & Handler… Judge Colin learned the “HARD” way with Handler…. Handler used and abused Colin….
Malpractice suits to be filed soon against WEISS & HANDLER…
November 4th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Get Christ’s cell records…he’s almost positively lying about not talking to Rothstein.
Big Shot J_ws like Rothsteen don’t even give away stolen money without demanding political access and flaunting it.
ABRAMS is only on the PB Commission due to The Jewish Avenger, Rothstein. He must resign now
The tribe would be well advised to get there act straightened up….the natives may start dusting off old copies of Mein Kampf if they are not careful.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Wellll here we are again. Can’t even find all the state owned properties because we are attending weddings other than the governors.
Is there no end to the lunacy that is our government in the U.S.?
Let alone…. how this guy got appointed..
It is just downright disappointing and SCARY……….
November 4th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
I have seen Governor Crist pose for a picture with Florida… He has had his picture taken with so many people. He is a great Governor and has done so much good for our state. Thank you Governor Crist. We love you.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Time long OVERDUE for the FEDS and WILLIAM SHEPHERD NEW Prosecutor to indict and Jail the crooks @ WEISS & HANDLER….. Case Fixing, Payoffs, Backroom Deals, over billing, fraud and MALPRACTICE…
Welcome to the “FIRM” KEN PRUITT !!!
WEISS & HANDLER LIARS AND CROOKS!!
November 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
About weiss and handler - I wouldn’t leave with them a pack of cigarettes.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Look closely at the picture accompaning this blog. Do you wonder, like I do, where Crist’s right hand is? Crist sucked right up to Rothstein, took every penny offered with no questions, and put him on his short list of pals, along with Mendelsohn, the other bribing bag man. You’re disgusting, Charlie. You act like a turd, sound like a turd and stink like a turd.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
How come he is only returning the $9600 that was given to him out of their personal account, what about the other $400,000 that was paid out of the law firm.
That should also be returned to the people that his buddy scammed. It says alot about your character Mr Crist!
November 16th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
[...] weren’t Scott Rothstein, and the guy on the left, Gov. Charlie Crist, weren’t trying to distance himself from his former friend. The photo, courtesy of wedding shutterbug Stephan Maloman, was taken Jan. [...]
November 19th, 2009 at 7:31 am
Dems are waiting till the Spring to break the biggest corruption case of the camapign. Seems like Crist can be linked directly to a Land scam where he helped a major donor , Mori Hosseini of ICI homes, get 5.9 million through a Florida Forever grant on land that the FDEP had offered 3.4 million for just a few moths earlier. The land is known as the Stanaki Parcels in Volusia County.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:32 am
Crist is a bad man with a great smile! Vote this crook out! That’s if the FEDS dont take him to jail first!