The FBI and local authorities in Florida are investigating a Democratic primary campaign that was allegedly propped up by operatives affiliated with Republican Rep. David Rivera, the Miami Herald reports:
Federal agents gathered campaign records, invoices and began interviewing employees at two mail and data companies used by Democrat Justin Lamar Sternad’s primary campaign. Sternad spent about $43,000 in unreported cash and checks on mail services, a witness told The Herald and authorities. Some of the money was stuffed in envelopes bulging with $100 bills.
Federal law required Sternad to quickly report any contributions — including loans –just before the Aug. 14 primary, which he lost to Democrat Joe Garcia, a longtime Rivera rival who Sternad bashed in one of his 11 mailers.
Sternad was an unknown political newcomer who ran against Democratic candidate Joe Garcia. Sternad’s campaign manager was reportedly Ana Alliegro, a GOP operative connected to Rivera.
Rivera insisted in an interview on Wednesday night that he had no connection to Sternad’s campaign.
