May 22, 2012
Can You Hear Me Now? RNC Drops Rivera From Call
Today, the Republican National Committee decided to ditch embattled Congressman David Rivera (FL-26) from a conference call with reporters that was supposed to feature him. The Republican National Committee are the latest Republicans to abandon Rivera, who faces serious investigations from the FBI and IRS for possible tax evasion. Last month, the State Attorney’s Office found Rivera engaged in “questionable financial practices,” double billed Florida taxpayers for nearly $30,000 and identified potential ethical violations related to a secret contract to expand gambling in Miami-Dade County.
“Even the Republican National Committee cannot associate with embattled Congressman David Rivera who is still the focus of an FBI and IRS probe for possible tax evasion,” said Stephanie Formas of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “It’s no wonder Republicans decided to drop ethically challenged Congressman Rivera from the call since only last month, the State Attorney’s Office established that Rivera engaged in ‘questionable financial practices’ and double billed Florida taxpayers for $30,000.”
Background
State Attorney Found Rivera Engaged in “Questionable Financial Practices.” “State prosecutors say they won’t charge Republican Congressman David Rivera with a crime, but the 16-page memo they issued outlining allegations of questionable financial practices will make his re-election campaign more difficult.” [Associated Press, 4/19/12]
Rivera Continues to Be Under Investigation by FBI and IRS. Rivera remains under IRS and FBI investigation for potential campaign finance violations and tax evasion. [Miami Herald, 4/18/12; Washington Post, 5/1/12]
Rivera Double Dipped the Taxpayers of Florida on Travel Expenses. Rivera “charged travel expenses to both his campaign accounts and his legislative office account — resulting in $29,500 in double-billing from 2006 to 2010, the records show. But prosecutors said they could not charge Rivera with felony theft, because state law says any charges based on false travel vouchers must only be misdemeanors — and must be prosecuted within two years of the offense.” The State Attorney’s office founds that these transactions were “potential theft from the state.” [Miami Herald, 4/18/12]
Rivera Was Not Charged was Because of Legal Loopholes. The investigators’ report makes clear that they believed Rivera had violated the law, but were prevented from prosecuting him because of legal ambiguities and excessively stringent statute of limitation requirements. To ensure that these time limitations would not prevent elected officials from facing prosecution in the future, the investigators recommended that the law reclassify these offenses to provide prosecutors enough time to conduct their inquires. [Memorandum from the State Attorney’s Office, 4/17/12]
Rivera “Purposefully Falsified His Financial Disclosure Forms.” “Analysis of documents obtained to date supports the contention that Mr. Rivera purposely falsified his financial disclosure forms in an attempt to legitimize other source of income beyond his salary as a State Legislator.” [FDLE Investigative Summary, 7/29/11]
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