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Nov 11, 2009 7:22 pm US/Eastern
Gov. Crist Describes Friendship With Rothstein
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Embattled Attorney Scott Rothstein (left) was friends with Governor Charlie Crist and a major contributor to his campaign.
Picture From Rothstein's Office/CBS
Governor Charlie Crist is answering a lot of questions, as federal investigators are looking into his friend and supporter Scott Rothstein. Rothstein is the embattled Fort Lauderdale attorney who's accused of defrauding investors of hundreds of millions of dollars.
"He was a friend and supporter," said Gov. Crist. But Rothstein describes them as "close" friends, posting on his professional bio that he's an advisor to the Governor.
During a recent tour of Rothstein's downtown Fort Lauderdale office, there were numerous photos of Governor Crist and Rothstein together. They were even at each other's weddings. Rothstein also held many fundraisers for the governor and others in the Republican party. Recently, he started contributing to Democrats, as well.
In light of the charges against Rothstein, Governor Crist returned $9,600.00 that Rothstein personally contributed to his campaign.
"Nobody has a crystal ball in these things," explained the Governor. "The right thing to do is return it when somebody experiences a problem and that's exactly what we've done."
An attorney for several investors now wonders if there is more tainted money in the Governor's coffer. Our partners at the
Miami Herald report more than $100,000 were donated to the Governor's senate campaign from employees of Rothstein's law firm and their families. The concern is that the money could be co-mingled with investor money.
"I'm not aware that any of it was," said the Governor. "If that comes to light, we certainly would address it appropriately."
Despite the governor's friend and big fund raiser under investigator, Crist says he does not think this will hurt his senate campaign. "People are fair," he said. They understand nobody can determine something, you know, I can't see the future. Nobody can."
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