Dem candidate for U.S. Senate calls for investigation of Rothstein contributions and Crist appointments
by Michael C. Bender | December 1st, 2009
Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, said today that Gov. Charlie Crist’s call for a grand jury investigation into political corruption should be expanded to include the Republican governor, also a Senate candidate.
Ferre cited this story from BrowardBeat.com that Crist may have traded judicial appointments in Broward County in exchange for contributions from disbarred attorney Scott Rothstein to the state Republican party.
Rothstein was arrested today on federal racketeering charges.
“State campaign finance records show a troubling pattern of large contributions from Mr. Rothstein and immediate and subsequent appointments of Judges to the Fourth District Court of Appeals,” said Ferre, a former six-term mayor of Miami. “Is this pattern a coincidence? Could it indicate real corruption in the Judicial nominating process and raise legitimate questions about a possibility of Crist’s integrity and his fitness to govern?”
“Perhaps the U.S. Attorney’s investigation into corruption in South Florida should be expanded to include the Governor’s possible auctioning of judicial appointments in Broward County. We need to know what Charlie Crist knew and when he knew it,” said Ferre.
Tags: Maurice Ferre, Scott Rothstein
Where's the money? Use The Post's interactive database of who wants and who's getting federal dollars.
Use these interactive graphics to find and contact Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast legislators.
Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Does the nominating process need to be “corrupt” to lack integrity? The appointments to the committees is dominated by political connections, thus the nominees are a product of political connections and affiliations. The Judicial Qualifications Committee is loaded with politicos and fails to oversee judges or enforce the canons. Does this make the process corrupt? I would say it does, but it certainly fails on a number or less onerous standards as well. These problems are hardly limited to the Fourth DCA or the Circuit Courts within the District.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Thank You! Mr. Ferre. While I believe Crist’s call for the Supreme Court to sanction the call for a statewide grand jury empaneled was simply a “spoof” on his part. Many of us welcome your request for a corruption investigation into Crist and cronies. This corruption is so apparent even Ray Charles could have seen it. Mori Hosseini Stanaki land deal, Volusia County alone should put in Federal prison, not to mention the Rothstein, Harry Sargent, Dr. Steve Scott, Dr. Alan Mendehlson. the list goes on and on. Please do the taxpayers and voters of Florida a favor and stand behind your request and ask other prominent members of society to call for a Federal investigation into this organized corruption so we the people can replace these corrupt with honest people. Thank you again, please continue this fight.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:52 pm
http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2009/12/maurice-ferre-calls-for-cristrothstein-investigation.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tampabaycom%2Fblogs%2Fbuzz+%28The+Buzz+%7C+tampabay.com%29