Two Florida members of Congress have been the subject of intense investigations for their fundraising: Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami, and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota.
Buchanan never stopped raising money for the National Republican Congressional Committee -- House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, appeared at a fundraiser with him in Sarasota and NRCC Chairman Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, declared his support for him.
And while top GOP leadership initially stayed arms length from Rivera, he appears to be back in their embrace. Rivera won't face criminal charges following an 18-month investigation of his personal and campaign finances by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
This morning, the Republican National Committee was set to feature him, along with Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, in a press call bashing the Obama administration's decision to issue a visa to Cuban first daughter Mariela Castro and others to attend events in this country. Castro is set to chair a panel on sexual diversity at the Latin American Studies Association conference in San Francisco. She's a noted gay rights activist who heads a sex education center in Cuba.
Rivera didn't end up on the call -- RNC spokesman Sean Spicer said they had difficulty coordinating schedules this morning.
Here's what the Democratic National Committee had to say on that: "The fact that the RNC found David Rivera to be a credible source on anything is laughable considering his status as an embattled member of congress, under investigation by Florida officials for living off his campaign contributions for nearly a decade. No wonder he 'couldn't make it' on the conference call."
So only Diaz-Balart spoke, beginning the press call by saying he was expressing "deep outrage" with the decision. He called the visits "pro-regime, public relations tours."
“While they grab headlines criticizing the President and distorting his record on Cuba, they avoid saying that Mariela Castro actually received a visa to visit the US in 2002 under the Bush Administration. What a bunch of hypocrites!!!!!
Posted by: Michael | May 22, 2012 at 12:56 PM
they avoid saying that Mariela Castro actually received a visa to visit the US in 2002 under the Bush Administration. What a bunch of hypocrites!!!!! http://www.yourcheapshoes.com
Posted by: Adidas Bounce | May 22, 2012 at 11:42 PM
lol, Rivera is a loser, creep and hopefully a soon to be federal prison inmate.
Posted by: Daniel | May 23, 2012 at 04:32 PM