Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX), chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is defending NRCC Finance Chair Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) over allegations he schemed to illegally reimburse employees of his former car dealership for donations to his political campaign.
The allegations against Buchanan are the subject of both Justice Department and House Office of Congressional Ethics investigations. The Federal Election Commission has asked a federal court to fine his former company $67,900.
“Vern Buchanan has been forthright and brought the information to the committee and to the Department of Justice himself,” Sessions told Bloomberg’s Al Hunt, also saying he has “confidence” in the Florida Republican.
Buchanan’s former business partner told investigators back in 2009 that Buchanan told him to instruct their employees to write checks to his campaign and then reimburse them for the cost.
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
Buchanan? He's in my database!
#811 REP. VERN BUCHANAN
FINANCE CHAIRMAN FOR THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CAMAPAIGN COMMITTEE AND GOP COCKSUCKER REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE FLORIDA 13th
[UPDATE October 19, 2011: Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), finance chairman for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), is under investigation by the Justice Department over allegations he was involved in a scheme to reimburse employees of his former car dealership for donations they made to his campaign, a Florida newspaper reports.
A former business partner of Buchanan’s has accused the Florida Republican of “running” donations through the dealership. The Federal Election Commission has gone after that business partner, Sam Kazran, but hasn’t touched Buchanan.
Buchanan’s lawyer, Patton Boggs partner William J. McGinley (who previously served as general counsel to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and deputy counsel to the Republican National Committee), had no comment when contacted by TPM. He told the Bradenton Herald that he believes federal investigators will clear Buchanan and even said he anticipates they’ll find that “Congressman Buchanan is a victim.”
Campaign spokeswoman Sally Tibbetts told Politico that it had “always been our expectation that the Justice Department would review the [FEC’s] findings.”
Sessions is a mindlessly partisan buffoon. Sessions coming to the defense of Buchanan is probably counterproductive. The headline is "Sleazebag defends fellow sleazebag".
So, what is Sessions involvement, why stick his neck out?
Once again the repubs go to bat for the lowly elements of our society. They sure do seem to know a lot of deviant lower level players.
Republicans pay much attention to non-existent voter fraud and completely ignore the rampant campaign finance fraud.
If they're going to censure Buchanan, here's hoping they'll also censor Pat Buchanan.
it is OK if a Republican does it. I suspect Sessions would not defend a Democrat that had broken the law in a similar manner.
Once he was caught he confessed. Such a great recommendation in a Finance Chair.
AJM3 The Republicans have taken the lessons of "Yes Minister" to heart. Politicians as supposed to be given the positions that they are most apt to abuse. How else will they be able to recognize someone else abusing their position?
sparrowhawk425AJM3 McConnell admitted in August that protecting the GOP brand was the most important thing.
Mickey Bitskosparrowhawk425AJM3 Their brand is well known among us progressives and McConnell is surely protecting that, no matter how much damage they cause. Too bad their constituents can't see past their own noses.
Crooks love other crooks.
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