Crist Campaign Returns $10,000 to Indicted GOP Donor

Strategic Insights -

Florida Governor Charlie Crist's independent U.S. Senate campaign has decided to return nearly $10,000 to Jim Greer, the indicted former Republican Party state chairman, after Greer requested the money to help pay for his legal defense. The refund is a departure from the campaign's previous stance on returning donations from Greer and other supporters. Greer, who faces six felony charges, including organized fraud and money laundering, made maximum contributions of $4,800 each to Crist in May 2009. The refund serves as an inconvenient reminder for Crist about his close ties to Greer, who he put at the party's helm when he was elected governor in 2006.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Crist campaign will refund nearly $10,000 to Jim Greer, the indicted former Republican Party state chairman, after he requested the money to help pay for his legal defense.
  • The refund is a departure from the campaign's previous stance on returning donations from Greer and other supporters.
  • Greer made maximum contributions of $4,800 each to Crist in May 2009.
  • Crist had previously refused to return donations from GOP donors who asked for refunds after he left the Republican Party in April.
  • The campaign's decision to return the money to Greer marks a change in their policy and may be seen as an attempt to distance Crist from his indicted former ally.
  • The Rubio campaign seized on the issue, saying that Crist's decision to refund Greer's money was hypocritical given his previous refusal to return donations from other donors.
  • Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp's attorney general campaign will donate $1,000 from the Greers to the party, and Rep. Chris Dorworth will return $500 from his campaign.
  • Two other Republican legislative candidates, Clay Ingram and Jason Brodeur, returned Greer's contributions voluntarily.

Statistics:

  • Nearly $10,000: The amount the Crist campaign will refund to Jim Greer.
  • $4,800: The maximum contributions made by Greer to Crist in May 2009.
  • 6: The number of felony charges faced by Greer, including organized fraud and money laundering.
  • 2006: The year Crist was elected governor and put Greer at the helm of the Republican Party.
  • April 2010: The month Crist left the Republican Party, causing several donors to ask for refunds.

Sources:

  • "Crist camp agrees to refund money to Greer," by John Frank, St. Petersburg Times, August 16, 2010.
  • Letter from Jim Greer to Crist campaign, August 5, 2010.
  • Statement from Rubio campaign spokesman Alex Burgos, August 16, 2010.