I caught this from Adam Smith of the Saint Petersburg Times just now, and it's pretty hard to believe.
Here's a description we doubt Charlie Crist or Connie Mack like to be associated with: convicted money launderer and kidnapper for Columbian Cali drug cartel. Last time we heard much about Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, he was introducing Sarah Palin and stressing Barack Obama's middle name - Hussein. Now the News-Press has a hard-hitting piece about his association with a controversial Republican activist/money-raiser/ex-con Dick Spence:
I'm sure you remember Sheriff Scott appearing before national cameras, in full uniform, to support McCain/Palin and to go after Obama. The rest of this story is astonishing.
The News-Press has the hard-hitting story that is difficult to believe(until you consider the past month). The ex-con(who was not petty criminal) apparently has helped raise a lot of money for Republicans, including at least half a million for Charlie Crist's campaign for governor.
Phone records and interviews reveal a tight personal bond, which branched into campaign involvement and possibly influence over personnel actions. A corruption investigation targeting the felon, Dick Spence, and his relationship with local law enforcement officials was under way earlier this year when Scott demoted, transferred or fired several deputies connected to it.
Spence was convicted in 1995 in New York of laundering more than $100 million for the Colombian Cali Cartel, a violent drug smuggling organization that Time Magazine in 1991 tagged as the No. 1 supplier of cocaine to the U.S. and Europe. According to federal indictments, Spence, along with two lawyers, recruited 20 money couriers to help launder the cartel's money into offshore accounts. Spence cooperated with authorities and served 36 months in prison before moving to Lee County.
I'm going to post more as I read through the rather long story.
MORE
Phone records clearly indicate that Sheriff Jerkface Scott and Spence were close. Calls between them were often the first or last of the day, going as late as midnight and as early as before 6 AM. They could last one minute to an hour and a half. Apparently, it was also no secret that the men were friends.
Dick Spence was essentially Sheriff Scott's campaign manager.
No hard evidence that Scott knew of Spence's past, but it seems pretty hard to believe that he didn't know something.
People wondering of the significance of the story should remember; Charlie Crist had half a million dollars raised for him by Dick Spence. Other Republicans throughout the state of Florida had money raised for them by, and provided to them by Dick Spence.
So, Sheriff; what's your (bleep)ing middle name?
Thanks Scarce;