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Democrats beef up elections complaint against Rick Scott

The Scott campaign has brushed off the allegations as a smear campaign
 
Published April 17, 2018|Updated April 17, 2018

A Democratic group accusing Rick Scott of illegally relying on a Super PAC to prepare for his U.S. Senate campaign has amended its complaint with what it says is more evidence of illegal overlap between the Scott campaign and the New Republican PAC Scott until recently led.

"As if there wasn't already enough evidence that Rick Scott has been breaking election law, a wave of new examples have surface in the several days. The amount of shady political tricks Scott will employ to advance his own political agenda is striking – and larger symbol for his tenure as governor," said Adam Bozzi, communications director for End Citizens United. "In light of this new information, the FEC should investigate Scott immediately. Florida deserves better."

Melissa Stone of the New Republican PAC did not respond to a request for comment. Ryan Patmintra of the Scott campaign said the complaint is baseless.

ECU, a Democratic-leaning group focused on fighting big money in politics, contends that Scott should have used a "testing the waters" committee to explore his long-expected U.S. Senate campaign. Instead, he improperly used the New Republican committee to raise and spend unlimited contributions to promote his candidacy.

The group earlier this month filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, noting that the New Republican had hired multiple Scott campaign advisers prior to his Senate announcement and itsweb site suddenly transformed into a pro-Scott group the moment Scott announced his candidacy.

Its new evidence of Scott and his team allegedly using the Super PAC to raise and evade federal contribution limits by New Republican spending unlimited campaign donations to promote his candidacy?

##New Republican and Scott campaign shared same fundraiser, Jenny Drucker.

###New Republican and Scott campaign listed the same address in Feb. FEC filing.

##New Republican paid for a poll about Scott in March.