State lawmakers expand inquiry into Bondi foreclosure fraud firings
by Dara Kam | August 4th, 2011From The Palm Beach Post‘s Kimberly Miller:
Two Democratic state lawmakers seeking federal assistance to investigate the ouster of state foreclosure fraud investigators have expanded their public records request of Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office.
Sen. Eleanor Sobel, D-Hollywood, and Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, say the request is in response to information they received about high-level attorney general lawyer Joe Jacquot going to work for Lender Processing Services, or LPS, as well as a former general counsel for Gov. Rick Scott’s former health care company, Solantic.
The Jacksonville-based company is under investigation by the attorney general’s office for its foreclosure-related practices. Shortly after Jacquot left Bondi’s office and went to work for LPS, Bondi fired two foreclosure fraud investigators.
“A number of troubling questions have come to our attention involving past and current employees of the Attorney General’s office and at least one mortgage processing company currently under investigation,” the two lawmakers wrote in a press release today. “In particular, we are especially concerned with the sudden departure to Lender Processing Services of your former special counsel, Joe Jacquot, and the subsequent dismissal of two apparently top notch foreclosure fraud attorneys _ June Clarkson and Theresa Edwards.”
Lender Processing Services is a former subsidiary of Fidelity National Financial. Both companies gave big donations _ to both Republicans and Democrats _ during the 2010 general election.
The Republican Party of Florida received about $19,000 from Fidelity, while the Democratic Party picked up $6,000. Fidelity also gave $2,000 to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink, and $1,500 to winner Rick Scott.
LPS gave $36,500 to the Republican party and an additional $12,500 to the Democratic party.
Read Kimberly Miller’s blog here.
Tags: Darren Soto, Eleanor Sobel, foreclosure, Joe Jacquot, Lender Processing Services, LPS, Pam Bondi, Rick Scott, Solantic
August 4th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
Two weeks ago I read about this incident in the little paper that comes to my condo – Palm Beach Sun. They openly called Pam Bondi corrupt. Now I see this stuff. Thanks Tea Party – another notch in your belt for destroying our nation.
August 4th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
This is how Tallahassee Repugnants operate. It’s all about money for these one principle politicians – the golden rule (he who has the gold rules).
August 4th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
Blah, blah, blah. Why don’t we wait until the facts are out you miserable, self-loathing b*stards!
August 5th, 2011 at 6:48 am
Every investigation concerning matter of government corruption begins with the questions from the investigator of “are you a former disgruntled employee?” For years the corrupt has used this first line of defense for all the corruption. And, if that don’t work then the standard backup defense is “politics!” Why not lets just get some honest people to do some honest investigations for a change! Rick Scott don’t have the “nads” he’s too fasinated with badge toters! His Moma told him to respect badges! She should have told him even back then “beware they are just human, some are crooked, some are sex addicts and so on, but she didn’t!” It was a much better world back then! Bondi the bimbo is no different than Bill McCollum or Charlie Crist or any of the other corrupt from all parties! She’s just not smart enought to cover her tracks and I don’t want to do the dumb blond thing! She and Scott didn’t get their inter state government connections course by coming up through the ranks like the experts did! More will come from this because it is true and it will unravel!
August 5th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
“Wait until the facts are out”? Could the corruption in Bondi’s office be any more flagrant?
August 5th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
The Jacksonville-based company is under investigation by the attorney general’s office for its foreclosure-related practices.
August 5th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Shortly after Jacquot left Bondi’s office and went to work for LPS, Bondi fired two foreclosure fraud investigators.
August 6th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
And the PLOT THICKENS………….
August 11th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
Nothing will happen to Bambi Bondi. Spend some time watching and listening to her on the live/taped legislature PBS channel. Scott and Bambi fawn all over each other. Scott would be the first to provide a legal defense (with our dollar), obstruct the investigation, and if a miracle happened where she would be found (correctly) guilty, he would provide a Governor’s Pardon.
Vote the bumms out!
August 12th, 2011 at 3:17 am
I’m writing this article.