CFO Sink Calls for Independent Prosecutor to Lead Criminal Investigation into RPOF
4/2/2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2010
CONTACT: Kevin Cate, (850) 413-2842
TALLAHASSEE – Florida CFO Alex Sink today sent a letter to Attorney General Bill McCollum calling on him to appoint an independent prosecutor to lead the criminal investigation into the Republican Party of Florida to avoid any conflict of interest.
“It is only through a completely independent investigation that Floridians can have confidence that any criminal activity that may have occurred in the Republican Party will be properly addressed,” wrote CFO Sink. “We need an independent prosecutor leading this investigation, and not a Cabinet agency.”
The letter is attached and below:
April 2, 2010
The Honorable Bill McCollum
Office of Attorney General
State of Florida
The Capitol PL-01
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1050
Dear Attorney General McCollum:
It was disclosed this week that you referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, an agency that reports to the Florida Cabinet, a criminal investigation into the Republican Party of Florida’s former Chairman, Jim Greer. I have tremendous respect for the dedication, integrity and professionalism of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and its Commissioner, Gerald Bailey, who was appointed by the Governor and Cabinet, and confirmed by the Florida Senate.
However, because this investigation focuses on the Republican Party of Florida, and Governor Crist, Commissioner Bronson, and you are leaders of the Republican Party, this investigation should have been referred at the outset to an independent prosecutor who does not report to the Cabinet – either the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit, or the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. It is not appropriate to refer this investigation to a law enforcement agency that works under the direction of the four of us.
I urge you to refer this matter directly to the State Attorney in Leon County and the federal prosecutors for the Northern District of Florida. It is only through a completely independent investigation that Floridians can have confidence that any criminal activity that may have occurred in the Republican Party will be properly addressed. We need an independent prosecutor leading this investigation, and not a Cabinet agency.
Sincerely,
Alex Sink
cc: The Honorable Charlie Crist
The Honorable Charlie Bronson