The Justice Department has dropped its investigation into Rep. Vern Buchanan, his lawyers said Tuesday. Buchanan had been under the microscope because of allegations that he reimbursed employees of his former car dealership for donations made to his political campaign.
”The Department of Justice today informed Congressman Vern Buchanan, R-FL, that it has closed its investigation of all allegations against him and will not bring any criminal charges,” Buchanan’s reelection campaign said in a statement. “The chief of the DOJ’s public integrity section, Jack Smith, advised Buchanan’s lawyers today of DOJ’S conclusions and authorized them to make today’s announcement.”
Federal Election Commission officials, who went after Buchanan’s busineess partner but not the Florida Republican himself, said that Buchanan’s testimony wasn’t “credible.” Separately, the House Ethics Committee found that Buchanan had filed inaccurate financial statements but didn’t take any action against him.
