Crist says former GOP chairman’s allegations ‘absolutely untrue’

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Sunday that damaging charges made
against him on Saturday by a former close ally are “absolutely untrue.”

Former
Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) Chairman Jim Greer, through his
attorney, said
that Crist approved of his plan to establish a shell company to enrich
himself off party donations.

Greer was arrested this week on
charges of defrauding his party through the scheme. 

Asked if the
charges had any weight, Crist said they are “Absolutely untrue. You
know, sometimes desperate people say desperate
things and it’s very sad.”

Crist — a former Republican now
running for Senate as an independent — hand-picked Greer to lead the
RPOF as governor several years ago. Greer resigned in January amid
allegations of corruption and dissension within the party.

Crist’s
opponents, especially Republican Marco Rubio, have seized on the
allegations as evidence that Crist was also involved in corrupt
activities. But Crist said that he had no inside knowledge of Greer’s
activity.

“What  I know about it is only what I have read in
the newspapers,” he said. “It’s an unfortunate situation, it’s very
disappointing and sometimes people disappoint you and that’s what’s
happened here.”

Meanwhile, Rubio also faces a preliminary
investigation whether or not he used a party credit card improperly.
Democratic candidate Rep. Kendrick Meek faces
questions over earmarks he pursued for a developer who faces
criminal fraud charges.

Cross-posted from the Briefing Room