Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist has responded to allegations that he paid two men to conceal gay affairs.
Crist told WTSP of Tampa Bay the charges -- revealed in documents relating to the investigation of former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer -- are "a bunch of delusional lies."
The investigation of Greer stems from allegations that he spearheaded a secret fundraising contract that may have resulted in nearly $200,000 of donor money being redirected to Greer and the party's executive director. Crist denied having any knowledge of Greer's alleged scheme during his Republican-turned-independent Senate campaign in 2010.
Greer's attorney, Damon Chase, said at the time that the former governor signed off on the secret fundraising plan. According to WTSP, Crist is now saying Chase wanted him to change his affidavit about his knowledge of Greer's compensation for fundraising, but Crist refused.
[Warning: graphic language below]
The gay allegations against Crist first surfaced in a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Investigative Report containing details on an exchange between Chase and John Morgan, whose law firm Crist works at in Florida:
Chase had contacted Morgan, as Chase believed Morgan was the attorney representing Crist, to set up a time wherein Chase could depose Crist. In essence, indicated to Morgan that if he (Chase) had to take Crist's deposition, Crist was not going to like what Chase asked as it would contain embarrassing things and would be used to impeach his testimony. When Morgan inquired what embarrassing things Chase was referring to, Chase indicated that he would be forced to impeach Crist by addressing the following issues: 1. Charlie Crist was a homosexual and had homosexual relationships with at least two men who were paid to leave the state to avoid embarrassing then Governor Crist. 2. Governor Crist kissed or attempted to kiss Greer at a hotel in Beverly Hills, California, 3. Governor Crist's drunken escapades, and how Governor Crist's security detail had to cover for him 4. Governor Crist attempting to run people over while intoxicated and operating a golf cart.
Morgan allegedly told Chase that his accusations were nothing more than inflammatory remarks intended to embarrass Crist and that even if the former governor were gay, they still wouldn't relate to the charges Greer faces or constitute grounds for impeachment.
According to the documents, Morgan told Chase Crist 'would have to be a sick son of a bitch to try to kiss Porky the Pig' (in reference to Greer).
In May, the Tampa Bay Times reported that records indicated Crist believed Greer was trying to extort him. The former state GOP chair has denied that was the case.
Greer is expected to face trial on July 30.
Below, a look back at gay sex scandals:
