REPORT: Florida Republican Congressman Secretly Funded ‘Democratic’ Primary Candidate’s Campaign

Since he was elected in 2010, Rep. David Rivera (R-FL) has been under an ethics cloud. Already facing federal and state investigations, a new Miami Herald report suggests Rivera may have secretly made illegal cash payments to vendors for a primary candidate running against the Democratic Party’s favored candidate to oppose him in his re-election bid.

Political unknown Justin Lamar Sternad was accused of being a ringer during his failed primary campaign against Democratic nominee Joe Garcia. Now, Stenard campaign vendors say they received their payments from Rivera’s campaign.

According to the Miami Herald:

Interviews with campaign sources, invoices, campaign records and other documents show that Rivera personally and frequently called [vendor] Rapid Mail about Sternad’s mailers. During one call, Rivera directed an employee to walk outside, check the office mailbox for an envelope containing payment for one mailer, the sources said.

The envelope was stuffed with cash — $7,800.

Last week, [Rapid Mail President John] Borrero told The Herald that the Sternad campaign had paid cash for six of the cash mailers, which cost between $4,000 and $6,000 each. He said he was surprised by the amount of cash, which he sometimes may see from private clients and not usually campaigns.

In April, a Florida investigation found “possible criminal and ethical violations” by Rivera. The FBI and IRS are also reportedly investigating payments to Rivera by a gambling company. Rivera has denied wrongdoing.

These mounting allegations against Rivera come despite House Republican Leader Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) promised “zero tolerance policy” for ethical scandals.