#Florida Cong. Matt Gaetz is now tied to shill candidate in a state senate election. This thread shows how *that* ghost candidate is directly connected to two So Fla shills we busted last Nov.
It’s in the money trail that led to Frank Artiles arrest.
Here we go:
@WPLGLocal10
The three shill candidates planted in three #Florida state senate races last November are:
Celso Alfonso (in D39 #MiamiDade), Alex Rodriguez (in D37 #Miami Dade), Jestine Iannotti (D9 Central FL - no pic) ....
@WPLGLocal10
All 3 filed as no-party-affiliation, did no campaigning, no fundraising, nothing. And yet they were backed by two Political Action Committees: “Our Florida” and “The Truth”. Both PACS were created the same day, Oct. 2nd - a month before the election.
And that’s just the start..
Both PACs have only 1 contribution & only 1 expenditure.
And they’re identical.
The only contributor (10/3, a day after opening): “Proclivity”, which suddenly changed in Florida campaign records to “Grow United”. Both are untraceable co’s registered in Delaware...
@WPLGLocal10
... Notice $370,000 went to “Our Florida” PAC, supporting the two South Florida shill candidates, Rodriguez & Alfonso.
$180,000 went to “The Truth” PAC, supporting one Central Florida shill candidate, Iannotti.
@WPLGLocal10
Two days later, 10/5, both PACs made what would be their only expenditure - all the money, $550K - to the same Clermont, FL printing company “Advance Impressions”.
It’s owners are from Miami: the mom & stepdad of a GOP strategist tied to both PACs.
The product?..:
@WPLGLocal10
Here are the flyers they printed: identical in graphics but for the shill candidates’ names.
They were mailed to the respective districts’ voters to make the shills appeal to Democrats, to siphon votes from the real Dems in the race (all of whom lost).
@WPLGLocal10
Back to #Florida Cong. Matt Gaetz, whom NYT connects to D9 shill candidate Jestine Iannotti...
Shill “schemes” are not illegal in #Florida; illegal campaign funding is.
That’s how #Miami SAO charged Artiles & Rodriguez.
No indication Central FL SAOs are on the case.
@WPLGLocal10
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