Tampa Tribune: Former supporter says Rubio used GOP credit card for home remodeling

[seafan]

Well, I'll be.


Here is what is undoubtedly one of the many reasons Florida GOP Chairman John Thrasher has not released Marco Rubio's GOP American Express Card statements from 2005 and 2006, when Rubio was Speaker-Designate of the House.



Former supporter says Rubio used GOP credit card for home remodeling




Marco Rubio doesn't deny using the credit card, but he says he repaid the party. (AP)


By WILLIAM MARCH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 23, 2010

TAMPA - A former supporter of Republican Senate candidate Marco Rubio says Rubio acknowledged having once put home remodeling expenses on his Republican Party credit card.

According to that supporter, Tampa political consultant Chris Ingram, Rubio initially told Ingram he had paid for the costs – about $4,000 to $5,000 for new kitchen flooring – but later denied both putting the charges on the card and repaying them.

Ingram said he discussed the credit card issue with Rubio in August or September of 2009.

"I asked him in passing, is there anything that would cause you a problem," Ingram said. "He said somehow or another a charge for new flooring ended up on the RPOF (Republican Party of Florida) credit card."

Ingram said he repeatedly urged Rubio to reveal that and all other records of his credit card use to "release your own bad news and get out in front of the story."

In a statement from a campaign aide, Rubio didn't respond directly to Ingram's account, but didn't deny Ingram's contention about the remodeling expenses. The statement attributed Ingram's account to political motives from someone who's now a Rubio opponent.

Rubio also repeated his refusal to release all of the billing records for his party credit card, calling it "an internal party matter."

But in e-mails about the subject to Ingram, which Ingram provided to the Tribune, Rubio says he has all the credit card records himself. Rubio indicates in the e-mails that he has four years of records, rather than the two years' worth that have been released by the party

.....

RPOF Chairman John Thrasher has stonewalled six ways to Sunday to head off any scrutiny of Rubio's RPOF credit card charges from 2005 and 2006, while declaring that Rubio is 'clean'. Thrasher's so-called "audit" miraculously found no problems worth mentioning with Rubio. But just for the years 2007 and 2008, you see. Nothing prior, because it might show Rubio picking out new home furniture and carpeting.

Step aside, Mr. Thrasher.

Use of party credit cards for personal expenses by top Republicans including former party Chairman Jim Greer has been a controversial aspect of the party's 2009 financial scandal.

The records released by the party cover the period from December 2006 through January 2009, while Rubio was House speaker and former party Chairman Jim Greer was in office. Records for that period for Rubio's card don't include any home remodeling costs.

But Rubio had the card before that, while he was the designated incoming speaker, a position that requires statewide travel to campaign for other candidates. Rubio's no-party opponent Senate opponent, Gov. Charlie Crist, has said Rubio should release the records from his time as speaker-designate.

.....

He told the Tribune he urged Rubio repeatedly in 2009 and early this year to disclose all information related to the party credit card.

In one e-mail he provided, Ingram mentioned the remodeling costs. Rubio's responses don't mention those costs, but say he paid any personal charges himself.

In an e-mail dated Dec. 24, Rubio responds to Ingram, "I have the statements now. It is all mostly a bunch of commercial airlines, rental cars, hotels and travel restaurants. Any personal charges were paid by me directly."

In an e-mail the day before, Rubio said, "This has been addressed. There is no issues with my card. (I spent less in 4 years than Sansom did in 2.)" – a reference to former House Speaker Ray Sansom, who also had a party credit card and has been indicted on charges he misused state funds to help a political supporter.

And this Tea Party con artist wants to be our next US Senator.



'But, but.... but... Sansom did it tooooooo!'


Mr. Sansom, Rubio's former budget chief, is now awaiting his own fraud trial.



And, all of this time, Rubio has been in personal possession of all of his own GOP AmEx statements, while loudly declaring there 'was no reason to release all of my credit card statements.'



It's time to Pay The Piper, Mr. Rubio.





Not even Jeb's Sword of Chang can save you now.

[flamingdem]

1. I hope the MSM picks up on this one nt

[peekaloo]

2. Whoa, the Trib is considered a conservative rag and they're picking

on Golden Boy. :cry:

The fingers in ears and la-la-la crowd will huff and puff about the "Liberal media" over this one. :rofl:

[FSogol]

3. A (R) after someone's name means that person is untrustworthy on so many levels.

:puke: