Charlie Crist alleges witness tampering
Former governor, legal team respond to homosexuality claims
Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is complaining about possible witness tampering by a lawyer representing the former head of the Republican Party of Florida.
Former GOP boss Jim Greer goes to trial in July on charges he steered party money to a shell company he created. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Documents released Friday show Crist called the Florida Department of Law Enforcement after learning of exchanges between Greer's lawyer and John Morgan. Morgan had been representing Crist.
The documents include summaries of questioning by the FDLE of Morgan and Crist, as well as emails between Morgan and Greer's attorney, Damon Chase.
Morgan told the FDLE Chase said he planned to depose Crist and ask embarrassing questions about Crist's personal life and habits.
The FDLE is looking into Crist's claims of extortion and blackmail. Crist and his legal team said Greer is making claims through Chase that Crist is gay.
According to a FDLE report obtained by WESH 2 News, Chase was seeking a deposition from Crist in Greer's lawsuit against the party. According to the report, Chase threatened to reveal "embarrassing things," including that "Crist was a homosexual" and that he "had homosexual relationships with two men who were paid to leave the state." Chase also allegedly threatened to reveal Crist's "security detail had to cover for ... (Crist's) drunken escapades," according to the report.
"Everything is nonsense," Morgan said. "They're trying to suborn perjury, and I think they picked the wrong guy to try to extort, blackmail or embarrass."
Crist said he was being targeted by Greer because he refused to change his sworn statement about his knowledge of Greer's fundraising business.
"The Greer legal team tried to get me, in 2010, to change my affidavit about what Greer did, and I refused. I won't lie for him," Crist said.
"I have never been, nor am I now (a homosexual). I am happily married."