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House to probe Kreegel complaint
By Jim Ash FLORIDA CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF
House Speaker Marco Rubio on Tuesday named five House members to look into an election-related complaint against Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda.
The complaint, filed by Robert Anderson of Lehigh Acres, alleges that Kreegel's former legislative aide used a state computer to smear a political opponent while he was on state time, in violation of state election laws.
Anderson, in a House report on its inquiry into his complaint, was described as campaign coordinator for a Republican primary opponent of Kreegel's. Anderson disputed that description, but said he is a supporter of Kreegel's opponent, Keith Richter.
Richter was the target of Kreegel's aide's now-questioned work.
Rubio gave the panel until June 30 to make a recommendation.
Kreegel was in meetings in Lee County Tuesday and declined, through a spokesman, to comment. Kreegel said he intends to cooperate with the panel.
"He respects the process and he doesn't want to say anything that may influence the panel," said Kreegel's legislative aide, Zachary Burch.
The probable cause panel is headed by Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland and Rep. Loranne Ausley, D-Tallahassee. The other members are Rep. J.C. Planas, R-Miami; Rep. Dick Kravitz, R-Jacksonville and Rep. Curtis Richardson, D-Tallahassee.
Kreegel's former legislative aide, Barry Millman, resigned in November after House staff members investigated a complaint that he used a state computer to check on Richter's education credentials.
According to a House report, Millman contacted Richter's supervisor at Hodges University and questioned a master's degree that Richter obtained from an online university in the Seychelles. The investigation also found that Millman twice lied to Anderson about the existence of e-mails he sent to Hodges.
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House to probe Kreegel complaint
