Mo Money Mo Problems: Rothstein Is Latest Crist Fundraiser Under Cloud

[indimuse]

TPMMuckraker
Justin Elliott | November 4, 2009, 6:42PM
Something is rotten in the state of Florida?

With the accusations this week that Scott Rothstein, fast-living Fort Lauderdale attorney and friend and donor to Gov. Charlie Crist, orchestrated a massive fraud out of his law firm, there are now three Crist moneymen caught up in alleged criminal or extremely shady activity.

Crist, whose career has been fueled by his skill as a fundraiser, finds himself entangled with the trio of scandals just as his U.S. Senate primary campaign against conservative Marco Rubio is attracting national attention. And there's already talk down in Florida that the Crist-linked scandals may become a factor in the primary contest.

So what's it all about? Let's go to the tape.

Scott Rothstein
Crist claimed to reporters today that he has only a passing acquaintance with Rothstein. "Well, he had supported me like he did to many others," Crist said. "And that's about the extent of it."

But that's not the way Rothstein -- and many news reports over the years -- describe their relationship.

A self-described "Charlie Crist Republican," Rothstein reportedly met Crist in the 1990s, and Crist introduced him to Republican politics in Florida. Rothstein began to raise money for Crist. In a 2008 profile of Rothstein the Broward Beat reported on the relationship between the two men:





Read the rest:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/11/mo_money_mo_problems_rothstein_latest_crist_linked_scandal.php?ref=mblt


Asked by reporters today if any of the scandals would affect the 2010 race, Crist said it would not. "Because I've done nothing wrong."

[ej510]

1. Crist will burnt to crisp.