Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/105488408/Vern-Buchanan-R-FL-CREW-s-Most-Corrupt-Members-of-Congress
Timestamp: 2018-02-23 03:22:21
Document Index: 437854133

Matched Legal Cases: ['in fine', '§ 441', '§ 114', '§ 114', '§ 441', '§ 114', '§ 441', '§ 110', '§ 441', '§ 110', '§ 441', '§ 441', '§ 114', '§ 441', '§ 114', '§ 114', '§ 441', '§ 110', '§ 441', '§ 441', '§ 114', '§ 441', '§ 114', '§ 1512', '§ 1512', '§ 1515', '§ 1505', '§ 1515', '§ 201', '§ 1001', '§ 104', '§ 1001', '§ 1001', '§ 1361', '§ 1']

Vern Buchanan (R-FL) - CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress | S Corporation | Federal Election Commission
MOST CORRUPT: REPRESENTATIVE VERN BUCHANAN Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) is a three-term member of Congress, representing Florida’s 13th
district. His ethics issues stem from: (1) pressuring partners and employees to make contributions to his campaign committee; (2) reimbursing them from his corporate funds; (3) trying to coerce a partner into signing a false affidavit; (4) improperly using corporate resources for campaign purposes; (5) tax evasion; and (6) lying on his financial disclosure forms. He was included in CREW’s 2008, 2009, and 2011 congressional corruption reports for related matters.1 Conduit Contributions Rep. Buchanan was the majority owner of several car dealerships in Florida when he began his congressional campaign in 2005, including Venice Nissan Dodge, Sarasota Ford, Suncoast Ford, and Hyundai of North Jacksonville (HNJ).2 Rep. Buchanan’s former partner in HNJ, Sam Kazran, as well as several other former employees of Rep. Buchanan’s dealerships, have since alleged Rep. Buchanan and dealership managers pressured them to make contributions to his campaign committee that were later reimbursed with corporate funds. Mr. Kazran claimed Rep. Buchanan personally instructed him to engage in the reimbursement scheme at HNJ and another dealership.3 In a sworn deposition to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Mr. Kazran explained that in July 2005 – around the time Rep. Buchanan launched his campaign for Congress – Rep. Buchanan asked him to contribute to the Buchanan campaign,4 and he contributed the maximum permitted by law.5 Subsequently, Rep. Buchanan pressured Mr. Kazran to raise more money for the campaign.6 When Mr. Kazran said he did not have the money to do so, Rep. Buchanan responded: “Well, don’t you have somebody at the dealership you can trust? Just run it through
For more information, see CREW’s Most Corrupt 2011, available at http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org /mostcorrupt/entry/most-corrupt-report-2011, CREW’s Most Corrupt Report 2009, available at http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/mostcorrupt/entry/most-corrupt-2009, and CREW’s Most Corrupt Report 2008, available at http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/mostcorrupt/entry/most-corrupt-2008. 2 Republican Seeks Seat, Bradenton Herald, June 29, 2005; Vernon G. Buchanan, Personal Financial Disclosure Statement for January 1, 2004-April 30, 2006, filed May 12, 2006; Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, General Counsel’s Brief, October 21, 2010 (General Counsel’s Brief). 3 Federal Election Commission, Confidential Investigative Deposition of Sam Kazran, November 6, 2009 (Kazran Deposition). 4 Id., pp. 7-8. 5 Id., pp. 11-12; see also Vern Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2005 October Quarterly Report, October 14, 2005. 6 Kazran Deposition, p. 13.
the corporation.”7 Mr. Kazran believed Rep. Buchanan was instructing him “to have someone write the check personally and then give them back the money through the corporation.”8 Corroborating Mr. Kazran’s story, another HNJ executive, Josh Farid, testified he overheard a telephone conversation in which Rep. Buchanan told Mr. Kazran to have his employees contribute to the campaign and reimburse them for their contributions with dealership funds.9 In addition, HNJ’s controller said Mr. Kazran told her to make a contribution to Rep. Buchanan and reimburse herself for it from HNJ funds immediately after Mr. Kazran told Rep. Buchanan on the phone, “Vern, I’ll handle it now.”10 Mr. Kazran said he told her HNJ would be getting the money back from Rep. Buchanan.11 In all, HNJ reimbursed its employees for $67,900 in contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign.12 Mr. Kazran testified further he was “very confident” Rep. Buchanan also told his other partners to engage in reimbursement schemes, and personally observed one conversation in which Rep. Buchanan did so.13 According to Mr. Kazran, at one partnership meeting Rep. Buchanan approached his company’s chief operating officer, Dennis Slater, and told him “I haven’t gotten your check yet.”14 When Mr. Slater responded he was “hoping to take a pass,” Rep. Buchanan said, “Don’t worry. You know you’re going to get it back.”15 Employees at other dealerships owned by Rep. Buchanan were reimbursed for their contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign. According to the sworn affidavits of two former Venice Nissan Dodge employees, dealership employees were reimbursed with corporate funds for making $1,000 contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s 2006 congressional campaign or were
Id. Mr. Kazran recounted Rep. Buchanan’s instructions to find people he could trust and run their reimbursements through the corporation several times in his deposition. See id., p. 21 (“I instructed [employees] to write a check and reimburse themselves for [it] – because Mr. Buchanan had asked me to get money. And he specifically told me get someone you trust and run it though the corporation.”); id., p. 32 (“And he said to me, he says, Get somebody you trust and get the money out of the corporation.”); id. (“He had asked me to get money, I told him, I said, I thought you said I’m maxed out? I’ve already given you that money. And he said, Well, just get somebody you trust and run it through the corporation.”); id., p. 36 (“And when I told him that I don’t have it, he says, Well, get somebody you trust and run it through the corporation.”); id., p. 37 (“And I said, You already told me I can’t give any money. He says, Don’t you have somebody, like your brother or someone you trust that you can get to write a check for me? . . . Run it through the corporation.”); id., p. 72 (“He said get somebody you trust, run it through the corporation.”). Mr. Kazran made the same allegations to the Office of Congressional Ethics. Office of Congressional Ethics, 112th Congress, Report, Review No. 11-7565, January 12, 2012 (OCE Report), p. 18. 8 Kazran Deposition, p. 14; see also id., p. 37. 9 General Counsel’s Brief, pp. 17-18; see also OCE Report, p. 19; Virginia Chamlee, More Former Buchanan Employees Speak Out About Pressure To Donate, Reimbursement Scheme, Florida Independent, August 5, 2011. Mr. Farid also told the Florida Independent he was present Rep. Buchanan was “talking to [Mr. Kazran] about raising money and the campaign contributions,” and told him “‘[y]ou can get that money reimbursed through the dealership.’” Id. Mr. Kazran also said Mr. Farid was with him when Rep. Buchanan discussed this reimbursement scheme, Kazran Deposition, pp. 13, 32, but Mr. Farid told the FEC his understanding about it came from subsequent conversations he had with Mr. Kazran, Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, General Counsel’s Report #9, p. 8, January 25, 2011 (General Counsel’s Report #9). 10 General Counsel’s Brief, p. 18. 11 Kazran Deposition, p. 22. 12 General Counsel’s Brief, p. 23. 13 Id., p. 14. 14 Id., pp. 14-15. 15 Id., p. 15; see also id., p. 31.
coerced into making contributions.16 Carlo A. Bell, Venice Nissan Dodge’s former finance director, said that on September 15, 2005, the dealership’s general manager, Don Caldwell, called him into a meeting with Jack Prater, the Dodge sales manager, and Jason Martin, the Dodge finance manager and Mr. Caldwell’s nephew.17 According to Mr. Bell: Mr. Caldwell shut the door to the office and told the three of us that we needed to contribute to the campaign of Vern Buchanan, who was then running for Congress in Florida’s 13th congressional district. Mr. Caldwell was holding cash in his hand at the time and said that the company would reimburse us for our contributions. He explained that the company would give us $1,000 cash in exchange for our writing $1,000 checks to the campaign.18 Mr. Bell asked Mr. Caldwell if this was legal, but rather than answering, Mr. Caldwell instead asked if Mr. Bell was on the team or not.19 Afraid he might lose his job, Mr. Bell replied yes, he was a part of the team and agreed to write the check.20 Mr. Caldwell then handed $1,000 to Mr. Bell, Mr. Prater, and Mr. Martin.21 Mr. Bell later discussed the meeting with Mr. Prater and Mr. Martin and all agreed it seemed wrong to accept cash to write checks to the Buchanan campaign, but they were “afraid that refusing to do so might endanger [their] employment with Venice Nissan Dodge.”22 Two other Venice Nissan Dodge managers, Marvin White and William Mullins, also received $1,000 cash reimbursements when they agreed to write checks to the Buchanan campaign.23 On September 16, 2005, the day after he was given the $1,000 by Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Bell deposited $960 in cash to his bank account, keeping the remaining $40 for spending money.24 On the same day, Mr. Bell wrote a check to the Buchanan campaign for $1,000.25 Similarly, the four other Venice Nissan Dodge managers who received the reimbursements from Mr. Caldwell also contributed $1,000 each to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign on September 16, 2005.26
FEC Complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Carlo Bell and David Padilla, Affidavit of Carlo A. Bell, August 19, 2008 (Bell Affidavit); FEC Complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Carlo Bell and David Padilla, Affidavit of David Padilla, August 19, 2008 (Padilla Affidavit). 17 Bell Affidavit. 18 Id. 19 Id. 20 Id. 21 Bell Affidavit. 22 Id. 23 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, General Counsel’s Brief, p. 5, April 14, 2010 (General Counsel’s Brief – Venice Nissan Dodge); Bell Affidavit. 24 Id. 25 Id.; FEC Complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Carlo Bell and David Padilla, Cancelled Check and Deposit Slip, filed August 19, 2008. 26 General Counsel’s Brief – Venice Nissan Dodge, p. 5.
Mr. Bell’s account of the reimbursement scheme was confirmed by David J. Padilla, a finance manager at Venice Nissan Dodge in 2005.27 In September 2005, Mr. Padilla was approached by Brad Combs, another finance manager at Venice Nissan Dodge, who told him “Mr. Buchanan needed campaign contributions and that anyone who made a contribution would get his money back plus additional compensation.”28 When Mr. Padilla refused to participate in the reimbursement scheme, Mr. Combs told him “that all of the managers were being asked to contribute and that many were planning to accept reimbursements in exchange for contributions.”29 Separately, Joseph Kezer, the former finance director of Sarasota Ford, described the reimbursement scheme at that dealership. Mr. Kezer said he personally observed campaign finance violations before Rep. Buchanan’s 2006 general election and that some of the $8 million spent by the Buchanan campaign in 2006 was “laundered corporate cash funneled through higher-ups at Buchanan’s numerous dealerships.”30 Mr. Kezer “fielded phone calls from other dealership executives wanting to know whether company reimbursement checks they had cashed put them in legal peril.”31 He said, “After it happened, a couple of [managers] contacted me because they were concerned . . . I didn’t know at the time . . . whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.”32 Mr. Kezer also alleged he was pressured to make a contribution and that as a further reward, Rep. Buchanan offered him the use of his vacation house in Vail, Colorado.33 Although Mr. Kezer did not want to donate, he contributed $2,000 to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign committee because he feared for his job.34 Another of Rep. Buchanan’s dealerships, Suncoast Ford, admitted it broke the law by reimbursing employees for contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign committee.35 Rep. Buchanan’s partner at Suncoast Ford, Gary Scarbrough, admitted to the FEC he instructed the dealership’s controller to reimburse employees for $18,400 in contributions.36 Mr. Scarbrough testified he did not remember whose idea it was to reimburse the employees or if anyone asked him to have the contributions reimbursed.37 Rep. Buchanan’s attempts to reimburse political donations made by his partners and employees appear to have started years before he ran for Congress himself. According to Sal Rosa, who was the chief financial officer and treasurer for several of Rep. Buchanan’s businesses from 1998 to 2003, in the early 2000s Rep. Buchanan instructed Mr. Rosa to ensure Don Jenkins,
Padilla Affidavit. Id. 29 Id. 30 Matthew Murray, Buchanan Faces Another Lawsuit, Roll Call, June 2, 2008. 31 Id. 32 Id. 33 Jeremy Wallace and Carol E. Lee, Official Denies Donation Pressure, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 29, 2008. 34 Id.; Vern Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2005 October Quarterly Report, October 14, 2005, p. 64. 35 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Memorandum Re: Pre-Probable Cause Conciliation, December 15, 2011. 36 Id., pp. 1-2. 37 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, General Counsel’s Report #10, p. 4, April 29, 2011.
the president of one Rep. Buchanan’s companies, was reimbursed with company funds for a political contribution.38 Mr. Rosa, who had previously been the treasurer of a political committee, informed Rep. Buchanan that this would be illegal.39 In response, Rep. Buchanan said, “finesse it,” and ended the conversation, which Mr. Rosa took to mean that he had to reimburse Mr. Jenkins and mask it in the dealership records.40 In 2009, another allegation of a conduit contribution to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign committee surfaced.41 Terry Keith Howell, a registered Democrat, claimed he had been reimbursed for donations he had made unwillingly to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign.42 According to a deposition he gave in a lawsuit, Mr. Howell claimed the $8,800 contribution he made to Rep. Buchanan and the $10,000 he gave to the Republican Party of Florida were actually paid by his business partners, including Timothy Mobley, a Tampa developer and major contributor to Rep. Buchanan.43 Mr. Mobley was Mr. Howell’s business partner in a trucking company.44 Mr. Howell said, “Tim Mobley told me that Vern Buchanan is somebody good to have on your side, because he was going to be in charge of overseeing the DOT transportation stuff, so the amount of favors he could do for us was enormous.”45 Notably, Mr. Howell was in bankruptcy at the time he made the contributions.46 On October 7, 2010, Rep. Buchanan’s campaign refunded $5,000 in contributions that had been made by five former Venice Nissan Dodge employees, including $1,000 from Mr. Bell, to the Treasury Department.47 Similarly, on April 5, 2012, Rep. Buchanan’s campaign refunded to the Treasury Department the $67,900 in contributions made by HNJ employees.48 In 2007, Rep. Buchanan’s campaign refunded the $18,400 in contributions from Suncoast Ford employees after a company auditor noticed them.49 Pressure to Sign False Affidavit Mr. Kazran testified he had a “great relationship” with Rep. Buchanan until June 2008, when he discovered Rep. Buchanan “had taken some $800-or-so thousand out of the company without my consent.”50 In September 2008, this and related disputes resulted in litigation between Rep. Buchanan, Mr. Kazran, and their companies.51 According to Mr. Kazran, during the course of this dispute Rep. Buchanan agreed to pay Mr. Kazran $2.9 million for the damage
General Counsel’s Brief, p. 8. Id. 40 Id. 41 Susan Taylor Martin, Hard Times, Large Checks, St. Petersburg Times, June 20, 2009. 42 Id. 43 Id. 44 Id. 45 Martin, St. Petersburg Times, June 20, 2009. 46 Id. 47 Matthew Doig and Jeremy Wallace, Buchanan Returns Questioned Donations, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 3, 2011. 48 Vern Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2012 July Quarterly Report, July 15, 2012. 49 General Counsel’s Report, p. 16. 50 Kazran Deposition, p. 34. 51 Rep. Buchanan Sues Ex-Partner, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 26, 2008; Kazran v. Buchanan, Case No. 2008 CA 15448 NC (12th Cir. Fla.).
to the company caused by the alleged embezzlement and to buy out Mr. Kazran’s share of a Kia dealership they were in the process of buying.52 On October 2, 2008, Rep. Buchanan sent Mr. Kazran a “Confidential Settlement Communication,” signed by Rep. Buchanan and his company’s chief executive officer, John Tosch, laying out the terms of the settlement.53 One term of the agreement was that Mr. Kazran would execute an attached affidavit attesting – under penalty of perjury – that Rep. Buchanan had no involvement in or knowledge of the contribution scheme.54 The affidavit provides that during “somewhat hostile” negotiations between Mr. Kazran and Rep. Buchanan’s representatives, Mr. Kazran told Rep. Buchanan’s representatives that one or more of the dealerships under Mr. Kazran’s control had reimbursed individuals for contributions to the Buchanan campaign.55 The affidavit states: 5. Before September, 2008 neither I, nor to my knowledge, any other person who had ever advised Buchanan or any of his representatives had any information that one or both of the dealerships [of which Mr. Kazran was the person in charge] reimbursed certain individuals for contributions made to the Vernon G. Buchanan for Congress campaign. Since my relationship with Buchanan first commenced, I attended various meetings of other general managers or “partners” of Buchanan who were involved in other dealerships in which Buchanan, or companies controlled by him, had a direct or indirect ownership interest. At no time was there any statement or any form of encouragement to make a campaign contribution based upon a threat of job discrimination, financial reprisal, or other detriment for failure to make a contribution discussed, disseminated or suggested by Buchanan, a Buchanan representative or anyone under his or their direction. Furthermore, there never was a discussion, statement or other action which would have implied that a person who made a contribution to the Vernon G. Buchanan for Congress campaign would be reimbursed by someone or would receive a special benefit. No one has advised me that Buchanan or any representative of his knew of any intention, plan or arrangement by anyone to make a reimbursement, directly or indirectly, to a
Kazran Deposition, p. 55. Id., pp. 55-56; FEC v. 11-2001 LLC and Sam Kazran, No. 3:10-CV-1155-G-99 TGC-JRK, Affidavit of Sam Kazran a/k/a Sam Khazrwan, attached as Exhibit 2 to Defendants Response to Plaintiffs Complaint and Request for Leave to Join the Proper Parties in this Action (M.D. Fla. 2010) (Unsigned Kazran Affidavit); General Counsel’s Brief, p. 30. 54 Kazran Deposition, p. 59; Unsigned Kazran Affidavit; General Counsel’s Brief, p. 30. 55 Unsigned Kazran Affidavit ¶ 4.
person in exchange for making a contribution to the Buchanan for Congress campaign.56 Finally, the affidavit provides that Mr. Kazran “consent[s] to Buchanan filing this Affidavit with the Federal Election Commission and using information contained herein in connection with campaign for re-election matters.”57 In his sworn deposition testimony, Mr. Kazran said the affidavit was “absolutely incorrect” in stating Rep. Buchanan “had no idea about [the campaign contributions] and that I’m the one who did all of it.”58 Mr. Kazran explained that paragraph 5, asserting none of Rep. Buchanan’s advisors or representatives had any knowledge of the reimbursement scheme before September 2008, was “an absolute lie.”59 Mr. Kazran added he was surprised Rep. Buchanan included this statement in the affidavit because Mr. Farid and another HNJ employee heard Rep. Buchanan discuss the scheme with Mr. Kazran, and “[a]ll these partners know.”60 Mr. Kazran testified further that after he received the settlement communication, Rep. Buchanan asked him to come to Sarasota, Florida for a meeting.61 Rep. Buchanan told Mr. Kazran in the meeting he wanted Mr. Kazran to sign the affidavit, and said it was a condition of the agreement.62 Mr. Kazran refused, telling Rep. Buchanan he “couldn’t be lying.”63 According to Mr. Kazran, Rep. Buchanan initially said “okay, no problem,” but then asserted Mr. Kazran did not want Rep. Buchanan to be against him because he was going to be governor.64 In addition, Mr. Tosch called Mr. Kazran the following day and told Mr. Kazran he had “five minutes to sign this document or the deal is off.”65 Mr. Kazran said he was “desperate” to sign the agreement because he was “very, very much in the need of the money” and it “would have saved my company.”66 Nevertheless, unwilling to lie, Mr. Kazran refused to sign the affidavit.67 Rep. Buchanan testified he had almost nothing to do with the affidavit and remembered little about it.68 He claimed it was not his idea to have Mr. Kazran sign the affidavit, did not know who had prepared it, and had never even seen the affidavit before his sworn deposition.69
Id. ¶¶ 5-7. Id. ¶ 8. 58 Kazran Deposition, p. 60. See also id., p. 67 (“And he tried to make it sound like he had nothing to do with this. This is far from the truth.”). 59 Id., p. 70. 60 Id. 61 Id., pp. 60, 62. 62 Kazran Deposition, pp. 60, 62. 63 Id., p. 62. 64 Id.; see also id., p. 65 (“He doesn’t come out and say, I’m going to get you, but he makes comments, Look I’m going to be governor some day, You want me to be on your side.”). 65 Id., pp. 60, 62. 66 Kazran Deposition, pp. 57, 60. 67 Id., pp. 60-62. 68 General Counsel’s Brief, p. 46. 69 Id., pp. 46-47.
The FEC concluded Rep. Buchanan’s lack of recall about the affidavit and the events surrounding it did not seem credible.70 Misuse of Dealership Resources Another former employee, Richard Thomas, who was the director of fixed operations for one of Rep. Buchanan’s dealerships, alleged Rep. Buchanan repeatedly used dealership cars for campaign purposes.71 Mr. Thomas alleged vehicles were taken out of inventory for use by the campaign and, when returned, would frequently contain campaign materials such as literature and posters.72 These materials were cleaned out, and the cars were detailed by dealership staff before they were made available to customers.73 The dealership may not have been paid fair market value for the use of the vehicles.74 Rep. Buchanan also stored campaign materials at the dealership.75 Tax Evasion In July 2008, Mr. Rosa, who was the chief financial officer and treasurer for several of Rep. Buchanan’s businesses from 1998 to 2003, reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that Rep. Buchanan violated federal tax laws by committing tax evasion, fraud, and conspiracy to commit tax evasion.76 According to Mr. Rosa’s sworn deposition, “there was a fraud and crime that predated my employment and went on through virtually the entire period of my employment.”77 Mr. Rosa’s deposition did not include details of the alleged scheme, but he did say Rep. Buchanan “violated the integrity of the S corp structure.”78 In addition, Mr. Rosa alleged Rep. Buchanan created new business entities and used false spreadsheet records regarding income tax deductions to get favorable tax treatment on the use of his private plane.79
General Counsel’s Report #9, p. 19, General Counsel’s Brief, p. 47. Thomas v. Sarasota 500, Case No. 2008 CA 013014 NC, Complaint (12th Cir. Fla.), ¶¶ 141, 142. 72 Id., ¶¶ 142-143. 73 Id. 74 The FEC reports filed by Vern Buchanan for Congress in the 2006 election cycle show one payment made to Sarasota Ford in the amount of $600 for “transportation.” Vern Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2005 October Quarterly Report, October 14, 2005, p. 161. 75 Thomas v. Sarasota 500, Complaint, ¶ 144. 76 Brooks v. Ornstein, 2008 CA 034205 0 (9th Cir. Fla.), Deposition of Salvatore Rosa, pp. 9-10, 18, 127, January 9, 2012 (Rosa Deposition), available at http://floridaindependent.com/68730/vern-buchanan-irs-investigation; Deirdre Walsh and Scott Bronstein, House Ethics Committee Clears Powerful GOP Congressman, CNN, July 10, 2012; Eric Lichtblau, G.O.P. Fundraiser Faces Inquiries Into His Races, New York Times, February 23, 2012. 77 Rosa Deposition, p. 9. 78 Rosa Deposition, p. 34. 79 Virginia Chamlee, In Deposition, Ex-Employee Charges Florida Congressman with Wide Variety of Misdeeds, Florida Independent, April 5, 2012.
Lying on Personal Financial Disclosure Forms Rep. Buchanan filed required personal financial disclosure forms in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.80 In those reports, the congressman failed to disclose positions he held with five private companies and his family’s non-profit foundation, as well as $14,315 in income earned from several of those positions, prompting an investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE).81 In an interview with OCE, in which he was warned that making any materially false statement would violate federal law, Rep. Buchanan said these omissions were the result of repeated oversights.82 Rep. Buchanan also told the OCE he did not know how he could have received income from one of the positions, could not explain discrepancies between his personal financial disclosure form and his tax return, and said he failed to disclose that he served as president of the Vernon G. and Sandra J.C. Buchanan Family Foundation, Inc. from 2007 to 2010 because “our people missed it.”83 After Rep. Buchanan was interviewed by the OCE, he amended his personal financial disclosure forms for 2007 to 2010 to include the omitted positions and the missing interest income.84 Nevertheless, OCE concluded there was substantial reason to believe Rep. Buchanan had violated the Ethics in Government Act, and on November 8, 2011 recommended the House Ethics Committee further review the allegations.85 Status of Investigations On March 17, 2010, the FEC found reason to believe Rep. Buchanan knowingly received conduit contributions and excessive contributions in connection with the contributions his campaign received from HNJ employees and began a full investigation.86 The FEC’s initial general counsel’s brief concluded there was probable cause to believe Rep. Buchanan committed these violations.87 Despite the evidence of Rep. Buchanan’s direct involvement in the scheme, three months later the general counsel recommended that, due to questions about Mr. Kazran’s credibility raised by Rep. Buchanan’s attorneys, no further action should be taken against him.88 Nevertheless, the general counsel said “the evidence in this case comes close to supporting a finding that it is more likely than not” that Rep. Buchanan violated federal election laws, and concluded that many aspects of Rep. Buchanan’s testimony were not credible.89 The FEC
Rep. Vern Buchanan, Personal Financial Disclosure Statement for Calendar Year 2007, filed May 2007; Rep. Vern Buchanan, Personal Financial Disclosure Statement for Calendar Year 2008, filed May 2009; Rep. Vern Buchanan, Personal Financial Disclosure Statement for Calendar Year 2009, filed May 17, 2010; Rep. Vern Buchanan, Personal Financial Disclosure Statement for Calendar Year 2010, filed May 13, 2011. 81 Office of Congressional Ethics, 112th Congress, Report, Review No. 11-9366, pp. 9-19, October 28, 2011. 82 Id. 83 Id., pp. 10, 16, 18, 19. 84 Id., p. 20. 85 Id., p. 20. 86 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Certification, March 17, 2010. 87 General Counsel’s Brief, p. 51. 88 General Counsel’s Report # 9, pp. 27-28. 89 Id., pp. 19-22, 27.
accepted the general counsel’s recommendation not to take further action against Rep. Buchanan on February 1, 2011.90 On June 29, 2010, the FEC found there was probable cause to believe Venice Nissan Dodge and Don Caldwell knowingly made conduit contributions and excessive contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign.91 The dealership and Mr. Caldwell settled with the FEC in August 2010, and agreed to pay an $11,000 fine.92 Similarly, on June 28, 2011, the FEC found there was probable cause to believe Suncoast Ford and Gary Scarbrough knowingly made conduit contributions and excessive contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign.93 The dealership and Mr. Scarbrough settled with the FEC in December 2011, paying $7,000 and $8,500 in fines, respectively.94 In addition, on September 21, 2010, the FEC found there was probable cause to believe HNJ and Sam Kazran knowingly made conduit contributions and excessive contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign,95 and sued them on December 17, 2010.96 The court entered a default judgment against HNJ for $67,900 on October 13, 2011 after HNJ failed to respond to the complaint.97 The FEC settled the case against Mr. Kazran for $5,500 on February 29, 2012, with the parties agreeing to describe Mr. Kazran’s reimbursements to employees who donated to Rep. Buchanan’s campaigns as “non-knowing and non-willful.”98 In October 2011, Rep. Buchanan’s lawyers acknowledged the Department of Justice (DOJ) was investigating him for receiving illegal conduit contributions, and the New York Times reported in February 2012 that a grand jury in Tampa, Florida was hearing testimony in the case.99 The status of the DOJ investigation is unknown, though on September 11, 2012, Rep. Buchanan’s lawyer claimed the head of the department’s Public Integrity Section had informed him the inquiry was over, and Rep. Buchanan would not be charged.100. On January 27, 2012, OCE determined that “there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Buchanan attempted to influence the testimony of a witness” regarding the Kazran affidavit, and referred the investigation to the House Ethics Committee.101 On May 9, 2012, the
Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Certification, February 1, 2011; Becky Bowers, Rep. Vern Buchanan ‘Exonerated’ by FEC, his Spokeswoman Says, St. Petersburg Times, June 24, 2011. 91 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Certification, June 29, 2010. 92 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Conciliation Agreement, August 27, 2010; Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Certification, August 24, 2010. The FEC decided to take no further action against Brad Combs. Id. 93 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Certification, June 28, 2011. 94 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Conciliation Agreement, December 20, 2011; Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Certification, December 16, 2011. 95 Federal Election Commission, MUR No. 6054, Certification, September 21, 2010. 96 Federal Election Commission v. Kazran, No. 3:10-cv-1155-J-RBD-JRK (M.D. Fla.), Complaint. 97 Federal Election Commission v. Kazran, No. 3:10-cv-1155-J-RBD-JRK (M.D. Fla. Oct. 13, 2011). 98 Federal Election Commission v. Kazran, No. 3:10-cv-1155-J-RBD-JRK (M.D. Fla. Feb. 29, 2012); Jeremy Wallace, Former Buchanan Partner Sam Kazran Settles with FEC, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, February 21, 2011. 99 Marc R. Masferrer, Feds Open Campaign Finance Investigation of Rep. Vern Buchanan, Bradenton Herald, October 18, 2011; Lichtblau, New York Times, Feb. 23, 2012. 100 Jeremy Wallace, Buchanan Attorneys Say Justice Ends Investigation; No Charges, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, September 11, 2012. 101 Office of Congressional Ethics, 112th Congress, Report, Review No. 11-7565, January 12, 2012.
House Ethics Committee indefinitely extended its investigation in the matter.102 In addition, CNN reported the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also was investigating the matter.103 The status of the FBI investigation is unknown. On July 10, 2012, the House Ethics Committee released a report finding Rep. Buchanan had inaccurately reported his positions and ownership interests on his personal financial disclosure forms.104 Nonetheless, the committee said it would not take further action because it concluded Rep. Buchanan had not knowingly or willfully made the errors on his forms and such errors are not uncommon.105 Business Holdings and Lawsuits Rep. Buchanan has been a party to at least 13 different lawsuits since 2008. Most are about his business dealings, though some yielded allegations of pressuring employees for campaign donations.106 In November 2008, Rep. Buchanan announced plans to sell more of his business holdings to “reduce [his] exposure” to lawsuits and uncomfortable political situations.107 As of 2011, he owned three car dealerships.108 Since then, most of the suits have either been dismissed or have gone to arbitration.109 In 2008, Mr. Kazran sued Rep. Buchanan over a business deal regarding a company, Gwinnett, which they both co-owned.110 The case was dismissed in part, which led Mr. Kazran to file a second complaint in March 2012.111 Mr. Kazran claims Rep. Buchanan defrauded him by failing to properly capitalize a car dealership, owned by Gwinnett, which Mr. Kazran was trying to acquire, by lying on the original contract, and by using the dealership to reimburse employees for campaign donations.112 Mr. Kazran claims Rep. Buchanan’s actions caused him to lose $40 million.113 Rep. Buchanan’s lawyers tried to halt the case and force Mr. Kazran to accept arbitration, but a judge denied the motion on June 19, 2012.114 Rep. Buchanan was scheduled to give a deposition in the case in July 2012, but did not appear on the scheduled date, saying his attorney was ill.115
Press Release, House Committee on Ethics, 112th Congress, Statement of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics Regarding Representative Vernon G. Buchanan, May 9, 2012. 103 Scott Bronstein and Drew Griffin, Powerful Congressman Accused of Campaign Finance Violations, CNN, June 23, 2012. 104 House Ethics Committee, 112th Congress, In the Matter of Allegations Relating to Representative Vern Buchanan, July 10, 2012. 105 Id. 106 Jeremy Wallace, Buchanan’s Path Gets Smoother by the Day, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 7, 2010. 107 Jeremy Wallace, Less Business, More Politics for Buchanan, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, November 19, 2008. 108 Jeremy Wallace, Buchanan Has 3 Car Dealerships, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 3, 2011. 109 Wallace, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 7, 2010. 110 Kazran v. Buchanan, Case No. 2008 CA 15448 NC (12th Cir. Fla.); Jeremy Wallace, Buchanan Lawsuits May Linger into 2010, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, July 15, 2009. 111 Kazran v. Buchanan, Case No. 2008 CA 15448 NC (12th Cir. Fla.), Second Amended Complaint, p. 1. 112 Id., pp. 2, 3, 12, 13. 113 Id., p. 3. 114 Jeremy Wallace, Buchanan Withdraws Motion to Silence Former Business Partner, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 25, 2012. 115 Sara Kennedy, Attorney Seeks Contempt Of Court Order Against U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, Bradenton Herald, August 4, 2012.
Rep. Buchanan countersued Mr. Kazran and his wife, alleging breach of contract, and initially won a judgment in the case.116 In June 2012, however, a Florida judge tossed out the decision and reopened the case after Mr. Kazran and his wife said a key document in the case had been forged.117 Rep. Buchanan is now scheduled to be deposed on October 3 and October 4, 2012.118 Legal Fees Since May 2010, Rep. Buchanan’s campaign committee has reported spending more than $155,000 in fees to resolve his legal issues.119 In addition, on Rep. Buchanan’s 2012 personal financial disclosures, he lists a liability between $50,001 and $100,000 owed to Holland & Knight.120 The campaign also reported paying Holland & Knight $24,672 in May 2012.121 In addition, the campaign reported paying Patton Boggs $50,000 in legal fees in January 2011, $21,000 in April 2011, and $50,000 in April 2012.122 In 2010, the campaign committee reported paying $9,024 to Ignited Discovery and Applied Discovery, companies that specialize in litigation discovery.123 In December 2010, the committee reported paying $492 to Esquire Deposition Solutions.124 Potential Violations Coercing Contributions The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and FEC regulations specifically prohibit corporations from using job discrimination, financial reprisals, or the threat of job discrimination or financial reprisals to force employees to make political contributions.125 Corporations are also prohibited from facilitating the making of contributions to federal candidates.126 FEC regulations specifically cite as an example of illegal corporate facilitation “[u]sing coercion, such as the threat of a detrimental job action, the threat of any other financial reprisal, or the threat of
1099 Mgmt Co LLC v. Kazran, Case No. 2009 CA 018162 (13th Cir. Fla); Jeremy Wallace, Vern Buchanan’s Lawsuit Against Ex-partner Kazran Reopened, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 29, 2012. 117 Id. 118 Buchanan Deposition Could Come a Month Before Election, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, August 21, 2012. 119 Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2011 April Quarterly Report, filed June 20, 2011; Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2010 Year End Report, filed February 25, 2011; Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2010 PreGeneral Year, filed October 21, 2010; Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2010 July Quarterly Report, filed August 11, 2010; Wallace, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 13, 2011. 120 Rep. Vern Buchanan, Personal Financial Disclosure Statement for Calendar Year 2011, filed June 14, 2012. 121 Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2012 July Quarterly Report, filed July 15, 2012. 122 Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2011 April Quarterly Report, filed June 20, 2011; Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2011 July Quarterly Report, filed July 15, 2011; Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2012 July Quarterly Report, filed July 15, 2012. 123 Buchanan for Congress, FEC Form 3, 2010 Year End Report, filed February 25, 2011. 124 Id. 125 2 U.S.C. § 441b(b)(3)(A); 11 C.F.R. § 114.5(a)(1). 126 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(f)(1).
force, to urge any individual to make a contribution or engage in fundraising activities on behalf of a candidate or political committee.”127 Despite the FEC’s decision to take no action in the complaint against him, by using coercion, including the implied threat of detrimental job action, to force employees of the Buchanan automobile dealerships to make contributions to his 2006 and 2008 campaigns, Rep. Buchanan and his companies, BAH, Venice Nissan Dodge and Sarasota Ford, appear to have violated 2 U.S.C. § 441b(b)(3)(A) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2. Conduit Contributions The FECA and FEC regulations both prohibit the making of a contribution in the name of a person other than the true source of the contribution.128 Despite the FEC’s decision to take no action in the complaint against him, by reimbursing employees for contributions made to his 2006 and 2008 campaigns, Rep. Buchanan appears to have violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f and 11 C.F.R. § 110.4(b)(1)(I). Venice Nissan Dodge, Don Caldwell, Suncoast Ford, and Gary Scarbrough made conduit contributions to Rep. Buchanan and were fined by the FEC, and Sarasota Ford and Rep. Buchanan’s contributor Timothy Mobley also appear to have violated 2 U.S.C. § 441f and 11 C.F.R. § 110.4(b)(1)(I). Excessive Contributions The FECA limits the amount of contributions an individual may donate to a candidate, and the amount a candidate can accept from an individual.129 The contribution limit in 2006 was $2,100 per election and in 2008 was $2,300 per election.130 Any contribution over those limits was an illegal excessive contribution. Despite the FEC’s decision to take no action in the complaint against him, Rep. Buchanan appears to have violated 2 U.S.C. § 441a(f) by accepting excessive contributions. Venice Nissan Dodge and Suncoast Ford made excessive contributions to Rep. Buchanan and were fined by the FEC. Corporate Contributions The FECA and FEC regulations both prohibit corporations from making contributions in connection with any federal election, including elections for the House of Representatives.131 Despite the FEC’s decision to take no action in the complaint against him, by reimbursing employees with corporate funds for contributions made to his 2006 and 2008 campaigns, Rep. Buchanan appears to have violated 2 U.S.C. § 441b(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(a). BAH, Venice Nissan Dodge, Suncoast Ford, and Sarasota Ford also appear to have violated 2 U.S.C. § 441b(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(a).
11 C.F.R. § 114.2(f)(2)(iv). 2 U.S.C. § 441f; 11 C.F.R. § 110.4(b)(1)(I). 129 2 U.S.C. §§ 441a(a)(1)(A), 441a(f). 130 Press Release, Federal Election Commission, New Federal Contribution Limits Announced, February 3, 2005; Press Release, Federal Election Commission, FEC Announces Updated Contribution Limits, January 23, 2007. 131 2 U.S.C. § 441b(a); 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(a).
In addition, by lending Rep. Buchanan’s campaign committee vehicles for use in connection with the campaign, and by allowing the campaign committee to store campaign materials at the dealership, Rep. Buchanan’s dealership appears to have made illegal in-kind corporate contributions in violation of 2 U.S.C. § 441b(a) and 11 C.F.R. § 114.2(a). Witness Tampering Federal law prohibits tampering with a witness in any official proceeding. The statute prohibits attempting to intimidate, threaten, or corruptly persuade another person with the intent of influencing their testimony in an official proceeding,132 as well as attempting to corruptly obstruct, influence, or impede an official proceeding.133 An “official proceeding” includes a proceeding before a federal government agency that is authorized by law, such as the FEC.134 By trying to leverage a prospective $2.9 million settlement and threats of future retaliation to persuade Mr. Kazran to sign a false affidavit that would be used in the FEC investigation, Rep. Buchanan appears to have illegally tampered with a witness. Obstruction of Agency Proceedings A separate federal law prohibits obstruction of agency proceedings. Anyone who “corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States,” violates this statute.135 “Corruptly” under this statute means, among other things, “acting with an improper purpose, personally or by influencing another.”136 Endeavoring to suborn perjury or tamper with a witness is an obstruction under the statute.137 By making the $2.9 million settlement contingent on Mr. Kazran signing a false affidavit under penalty of perjury that would have been used in the pending FEC proceeding, Rep. Buchanan appears to have obstructed an agency proceeding. Bribery of a Witness Federal law also prohibits anyone from directly or indirectly corruptly giving, offering, or promising anything of value to any witness at any proceeding before an agency or commission with the intent to influence the witness’s testimony.138
18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(1). 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2). 134 18 U.S.C. § 1515(a)(1)(C). 135 18 U.S.C. § 1505. 136 18 U.S.C. § 1515(b). 137 United States v. Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56562, at **251-292 (D.N.J. Aug. 2, 2007). 138 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(3).
By making the $2.9 million settlement contingent on Mr. Kazran signing the affidavit with the intent of influencing his sworn testimony in the FEC proceeding, Rep. Buchanan appears to have attempted to bribe a witness. False Statements on Personal Financial Disclosure Forms The Ethics in Government Act of 1967 requires all members of Congress to file personal financial disclosure reports.139 Under the statute, the attorney general may seek a civil penalty of up to $11,000 against any individual who knowingly and willfully falsifies or fails to file or report any information required by the Act.140 House Rule 26 incorporates the financial disclosure provisions of the Ethics in Government Act.141 Federal law prohibits members of Congress from making “any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation”142 on “a document required by law, rule, or regulation to be submitted to the Congress or any office or officer within the legislative branch.”143 Despite the House Ethics Committee’s decision to take further no action against him, by failing to report six positions and $14,315 in income he earned from those positions, Rep. Buchanan appears to have violated the Ethics in Government Act and 18 U.S.C. § 1001. Tax Evasion Rep. Buchanan’s former chief financial officer, Mr. Rosa, did not publicly provide details of the allegations of tax evasion, fraud, and conspiracy to commit tax evasion he reported to the IRS beyond saying Rep. Buchanan violated the integrity of the S corporation structure. S corporations are entities that pass corporate income through to their shareholders for federal tax purposes.144 The tax code and IRS regulations contain detailed provisions regarding S corporations.145 Rep. Buchanan may have violated these provisions in his use of S corporations. Conduct Not Reflecting Creditably on the House Rule 23 requires all members of the House to conduct themselves “at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House.”146 This ethics standard is considered to be “the most comprehensive provision” of the code.147 When this section was first adopted, the Select Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the 90th Congress noted it was included within the Code to deal with “flagrant” violations of the law that reflect on “Congress as a whole,” and
Pub. L. No. 95-521, 92 Stat. 1824 (Oct. 26, 1978). 5 U.S.C. app. 4, § 104. 141 House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, House Ethics Manual, p. 248 (110th Cong., 2d Sess., 2008 ed.). 142 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). 143 18 U.S.C. § 1001(c)(2). 144 Internal Revenue Service, S Corporations, May 10, 2012. 145 26 U.S.C. §§ 1361-1379; 26 C.F.R. §§ 1.1361-1, et seq. 146 Rule 23, cl. 1. 147 House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, House Ethics Manual, p. 12.
that might otherwise go unpunished.148 This rule has been relied on by the committee in numerous prior cases in which the committee found unethical conduct including: the failure to report campaign contributions,149 making false statements to the committee,150 criminal convictions for bribery,151 or accepting illegal gratuities,152 and accepting gifts from persons with interest in legislation in violation of the gift rule.153 By reimbursing employees for contributions made to his campaigns, accepting excessive contributions, attempting to intimidate Mr. Kazran into signing a false affidavit, and providing false information on his personal financial disclosure forms, Rep. Buchanan appears to have acted in a manner that does not reflect creditably on the House.
House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, Report Under the Authority of H. Res. 418, H. Rep. No. 1176, 90th Cong., 2d Sess. 17 (1968). 149 House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, In the Matter of Representative John J. McFall, H. Rep. No. 951742, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. 2-3 (1978) (Count 1); In the Matter of Representative Edward R. Roybal, H. Rep. No. 95-1743, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. 2-3 (1978). 150 House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, In the Matter of Representative Charles H. Wilson (of California), H. Rep. No. 95-1741, 95th Cong., 2d Sess. 4-5 (1978); H. Rep. No. 95-1743 (Counts 3-4). 151 House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, In the Matter of Representative Michael J. Myers, H. Rep. No. 96-1387, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 2, 5 (1980); see 126 Cong. Rec. 28953-78 (Oct. 2, 1980) (debate and vote of expulsion); In the Matter of Representative John W. Jenrette, Jr., H. Rep. No. 96-1537, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 4 (1980) (Member resigned); In the Matter of Representative Raymond F. Lederer, H. Rep. No. 97-110, 97th Cong., 1st Sess. 4, 16-17 (1981) (Member resigned after Committee recommended expulsion). In another case, the Committee issued a Statement of Alleged Violation concerning bribery and perjury, but took no further action when the Member resigned (In the Matter of Representative Daniel J. Flood, H. Rep. No. 96-856, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 416, 125-126 (1980)). 152 House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, In the Matter of Representative Mario Biaggi, H. Rep. No. 100506, 100th Cong., 2d Sess. 7, 9 (1988) (Member resigned while expulsion resolution was pending). 153 House Comm. on Standards of Official Conduct, In the Matter of Representative Charles H. Wilson (of California), H. Rep. No. 96-930, 96th Cong. 2d Sess. 4-5 (1980); see 126 Cong. Rec. 13801-20 (June 10, 1980) (debate and vote of censure).
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