Mar 28, 2012

Another Day, Another Investigation into Vern Buchanan’s Criminal Activities

Congressman Vern Buchanan’s (FL-16) ethical woes have deepened.  The bi-partisan House Ethics Committee, chaired by Republican Congressman Jo Bonner (AL-01), announced that the committee is launching an additional investigation into NRCC Finance Vice-Chairman Vern Buchanan. Last month, House Congressional Ethics investigators found there was a “substantial reason to believe” that Buchanan broke the law by failing to report 17 positions and more than $14,000 in income over four years

Additionally, The New York Times reported that Buchanan was under investigation by the FBI, IRS and a federal grand jury for an “extensive and ongoing” campaign finance scheme to reimburse employees who contributed to his campaign. In January, the Federal Election Commission said that Buchanan “more likely than not” violated federal election laws.

“Taxpayers are continuing to foot the bill to Congressman Vern Buchanan’s six investigations after the Federal Election Commission already spent 1,284 days looking into ‘extensive and ongoing’ illegal campaign finance scheme to reimburse employees who contributed to Buchanan’s campaign,” said Stephanie Formas of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Over the last two months there have been three expanding investigations looking into Buchanan, and he continues spending more time and more money to protect himself from these investigations rather than protecting the needs and priorities of his constituents. Will these investigations into Buchanan’s widening criminal activities ever end?”

Background

House Ethics Committee Already Investigating Buchanan. “Congressional ethics investigators concluded there ‘is substantial reason to believe’ that Florida’s Rep. Vern Buchanan, one of the top Republicans in the House, violated ethics laws by failing to report his position with a half-dozen firms, according to records released Monday […] The information about Buchanan’s incomplete financial disclosures was released Monday by the House Committee on Ethics, which said it was extending its investigation ‘in order to gather additional information.’” [Washington Post, 2/6/12]

Buchanan is Under Investigation by The FBI, IRS,  and a Federal Grand Jury. “Federal inquiries surrounding Mr. Buchanan appear to be widening, as investigators examine allegations that his companies improperly reimbursed contributors to his campaigns and claimed improper tax deductions and that he failed to include all his varied financial interests in his Congressional disclosure reports […] agents for the F.B.I. and the Internal Revenue Service recently contacted former employees alleging financial improprieties by Mr. Buchanan, who owns a number of auto dealerships throughout Florida and elsewhere and is one of the richest members of Congress. A federal grand jury in Tampa is hearing evidence in the case as well.” [New York Times, 2/24/12]

Vern Buchanan is Under Investigation by the Department of Justice. “The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating complaints that U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan broke campaign finance laws — the same allegations for which the Federal Elections Commission has already cleared the congressman after a two-year investigation.” [Bradenton Herald, 10/18/11]

FEC Said that Buchanan “More Likely Than Not” Violated Federal Election Laws.  The Federal Election’s Commission’s “investigation went back to 2005, when Buchanan began his first campaign for the 13th Congressional District. Former employees for some of Buchanan’s car dealerships alleged they were pressured to donate to Buchanan’s campaign and were later reimbursed. Pressuring employees to give donations and reimbursing them are both against federal election laws […] According to the FEC general counsel’s final report, the evidence in the case ‘comes close to supporting a finding that it is more likely than not’ that Buchanan had violated federal election laws.” [Sarasota Tribune Herald, 1/20/12]

FEC says Rep. Buchanan’s Former Hyundai Firm Engaged in An “Extensive and Ongoing Scheme.” “The Federal Election Commission is asking a federal court to impose a $67,900 fine on a company formerly co-owned by Rep. Vern Buchanan that it says engaged in an ‘extensive and ongoing scheme’ to reimburse employees who made contributions to the Sarasota Republican’s congressional campaign.” [Bradenton Herald, 5/31/11]

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