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flamingdem

(39,313 posts)
Mon Oct 29, 2012, 04:55 PM Oct 2012

Under FBI scrutiny, suspected David Rivera ringer pleads the 5th in federal campaign letter

* This is of interest to Cuba watchers probably more than Florida campaign watchers

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/10/under-fbi-scrutiny-suspected-david-rivera-ringer-pleads-the-5th-in-federal-campaign-letter.html

Justin Lamar Sternad already had a big problem with his campaign finances prior to the deadline for filing his final October report: His campaign was under federal investigation.

So Sternad, a Democrat who witnesses say was secretly backed by Republican Rep. David Rivera, filed 17-blank pages for his final campaign report and then sent a letter to the Federal Elections Commission that said he could say no more.

" Please accept this letter as an amendment to my previously filed October 15 Quarterly Report (Q3)," Sternad wrote Oct. 19 in a just-posted letter to the FEC.

"On counsel's advice, I invoke my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States not to answer or submit the infonnation requested on FEC Form 3, on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.

"Please refer all additional inquires to my attomey. Rick L. Yabor, at (305) 779-5901."

The letter is the first written confirmation of the reporting of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, which first raised questions about Sternad's longshot bid for the Kendall to Key West congressional seat held by Rivera.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/10/under-fbi-scrutiny-suspected-david-rivera-ringer-pleads-the-5th-in-federal-campaign-letter.html#storylink=cpy

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