Florida Democrats (and Bill McCollum-supporting Republicans) accused Rick Scott of various transgressions during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign, but none ultimately stuck as the former healthcare executive ended up prevailing in the race four years ago.
But with polls way too close for comfort going into the general election, why not go back to that playbook? Since as far as the Dems are concerned, the issues regarding Scott's conduct in the private sector are certainly fair game.
So today the FDP introduced a new website called releasethedeposition.com, referring back to a deposition Scott gave in a case that alleged that his former company Solantic had broken Florida law by filing false medical licensing information with the state. Scott has always said the issue was a "private matter."
"Rick Scott refused to answer questions about the lawsuit and to this day, refuses to release the Solantic deposition," said Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant in a conference call this morning. Referring to how Republicans like former House Speaker Larry Cretul made a similar request, Tant called on the governor to release the deposition now. "What's so damning that Rick Scott won't release it no matter what the price? I think you and I have a right to know. There has to be stuff in that secret deposition that is pertinent to a lot of Floridians."
She then referred to the recent reports regarding the governor's chief of staff Adam Hollingsworth lobbying for the All Aboard Florida project that would financially benefit his (now former) company as another example of Scott and his "insiders" attempt to "secretly direct state business to make profit from it."
"I think there's a failure to follow the law in public disclosure. I think there's a failure to be honest with Floridians … what is he trying to hide?" Tant asked.
Scott divested his interest in millions of dollars in stock with Solantic during his first year in office, with the controlling shares going to a trust in his wife's name.
When asked on the call by Miami Herald reporter Marc Caputo that, in the name of transparency, shouldn't Charlie Crist's wife Carol release her tax forms, as has been demanded by the media and the Scott campaign? Tant contended that the comparison wasn't valid, saying that Carol Rome isn't the candidate. She added that Rick and Ann Scott file their tax returns together, and "he is known to (have) shifted money to her trust, and there's several actions where his blind trust and his wife's trust have exactly the same purchases," prompting reporters on the call to ask for specific examples of that. None were forthcoming, but Tant said that information would be sent to reporters soon.
Here's a new video the FDP released today as well:
In a statement released this afternoon, Republican Party of Florida Communications Director Susan Hepworth said, "Charlie Crist’s campaign of constant distraction and mudslinging is an attempt to hide his own problems with ethics and transparency. Crist is drumming up old, failed attacks because he doesn’t want to talk about the 38 days it’s been since he refused to release his and his spouse’s tax returns, and the 179 days it’s been since he refused to debate Nan Rich."
This article appears in Jul 24-30, 2014.