State law enforcement officials have opted not to open an investigation into Orange County Republican party Chairman Lew Oliver, more than a month after a disaffected political activist filed a complaint with state authorities.

Keith Recine, a former vice-chairman of the Ax the Tax group run by activist Doug Guetzloe, had filed a complaint accusing Oliver of misrepresenting some $12,900 in reimbursements that Oliver had claimed for campaign expenses. Recine also alleged that two $10,000 transfers between the Orange and Hillsborough County Republican executive committees were “laundering and mixing federal donations with state donations.”

The complaint was lodged last summer with the state attorney’s office, which sent it to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which sent it to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The complaint got reported by numerous media outlets as an “investigation” into Oliver, which it wasn’t. FDLE routinely conducts a “preliminary inquiry” into complaints it receives to determine if they have any merit before it launches an investigation.

And last week, the agency informed Recine that it had received receipts from Oliver’s lawyer and was satisfied no criminal acts had occurred, according to the investigative report released to the Central Florida Politics on Friday.

“Mr. Recine indicated he understood that there did not seem to be any criminal acts committed, but still stated he had numerous concerns about Mr. Oliver’s behavior related to (Orange County GOP) business,” the report states.

FDLE officers “informed Mr. Recine that the issues he had identified … did not fall under the purview of FDLE and would need to be addressed either by the Florida Elections Commission or within the (local party) itself.”

“I am of course relieved, but not in the least bit surprised,” Oliver said in an e-mail. “The complaints filed against me were complete fabrications.”

And he suggested that Recine, Guetzloe and other self-styled GOP rebels will be hearing from him.
“…[T]his is still America, and there are consequences for those who file false charges and commit extensive and repeated acts of defamation. Those consequences are coming…,” he wrote.

The backstory here is that Recine, Guetzloe and other disgruntled Republicans have been fighting with Oliver over control of the party. Earlier this month, Guetzloe was one of several activists suspended by the state GOP.

Recine did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Oliver has maintained the charges were bogus and the money account transfers Recine is referring to are all legal, and were vetted beforehand and later reviewed by the party’s executive committee.

Jim Greer

On July 2, Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer officially removed Deon Long from his precinct committeeman post with the Orange County Republican Executive Committee as punishment for Long’s attempted takeover of OCREC.

Back in December, longtime OCREC chairman Lew Oliver was re-elected by one vote over the insurgent Long, a Winter Park lawyer, but only after rejecting more than a dozen or so potential Long votes because they didn’t turn in paperwork on time. Long and his allies sued, but a court dismissed his claims.

Calling that election invalid – two OCREC members abstained, which in Long’s view means that Oliver didn’t get the majority he needed – Long held a sort of shadow meeting in February, at which he was elected OCREC chairman. Except he wasn’t, because the state party didn’t recognize his “victory.” Greer summoned Long to a grievance hearing in March, where Oliver presented his case that Long should be ejected from the local GOP. Long didn’t show.

Finally, last week Long received the not-unexpected decision in a terse, one-page letter: “I accept and adopt the [grievance committee’s] unanimous recommendation that you should be removed from the position of Orange County Republican Precinct Committeeman effective immediately,” Greer wrote. “Please govern yourself accordingly.”

Greer’s decision “doesn’t have any consequences,” Long says dismissively. He recently re-filed his lawsuit against OCREC. He’s all but announced his campaign for Congress against Suzanne Kosmas.

This evening brought word of yet another Republican being brought to the grievance committee. Will Pitts of St. John’s County. In his grievance letter he received it stated why he was being brought to the committee.  Here are the reasons

1. Attended a Pro-America Rally in Minneapolis hosted by the Campaign for Liberty and wore a “Ron Paul” button on my lapel after the Republican primary
2. Attended an End the Fed (Federal reserve bank) Rally in Jacksonville
3. Spoke or written things in a manner harmful to the GOP specially regarding RPOF Chairman Jim Greer and Gov. Charlie Crist by stating they are “pathetic and embarrassing” and other comments regarding Senator John McCain and President George Bush.

Is this really a party that I want to be a part of?  I wouldn’t think all Republicans feel the same way Greer does.  It would lead one to think he is on a little bit of an ego trip.

Eating your own does not seem to help the Republican Party either.  With so much effort being put in by the GOP with Drive the Discussion round tables, and the listening tour it would seem that the party wouldn’t want to cause members to jump ship.

If Republicans want to get their party back it is time to stand up. We will not win in 2012 with the same people like Greer destroying the Republican Party.

Republicans are just coming off of a HUGE loss to Democrats.  It would appear that the Republican Party would want to be in a BUILDING PHASE rather than a tearing down stage.