Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) is a first-term member of congress representing Florida’s 13th district. His ethics issues stem from pressuring his employees to make contributions to his campaign committee and improper use of corporate resources for campaign purposes.

Illegal Campaign Contributions.

Buchanan owns several car dealerships in Florida and after he began his congressional campaign in 2005, in one seven day period, he raised $110,000 from employees of his numerous car dealerships. Several employees have since alleged that Rep. Buchanan pressured his employees to make contributions to his campaign committee.

According to the sworn affidavits of Carlo A. Bell and David J. Padilla, employees of Rep. Buchanan's automobile dealerships, including employees of Venice Nissan Dodge and Sarasota Ford, were either reimbursed with corporate funds for making $1,000 contributions to Rep. Buchanan’s 2006 congressional campaign, or were coerced into making contributions.

Mr. Kezer, an employee of Sarasota Ford, also alleges that he was pressured to make a contribution and that as a further reward, Rep. Buchanan offered him the use of his vacation house in Vail, Colorado. Aware that it might not be legal, but fearing for his job, Mr. Kezer made a contribution of $2,000 to Rep. Buchanan’s campaign committee.

Another former employee, Richard Thomas, who was the director of fixed operations for one of Rep. Buchanan’s dealerships, has alleged that Rep. Buchanan repeatedly used dealership cars for campaign purposes. Rep. Buchanan also stored campaign materials at the dealership.

By making threats of job discrimination or financial reprisals to force employees to make political contributions, by reimbursing employees for making contributions to his campaign, by using corporate funds to reimburse employees for their donations, any by using corporate resources for campaign purposes, Rep. Buchanan has violated federal campaign finance laws.

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