House leader “concerned” over investigation of Rep. Rivera

Article Courtesy of The Miami Herald

By Lesley Clark

Published March 6, 2011

 

A top House leader in Washington said he’s ‘very concerned’ about the criminal investigation into Miami Rep. David Rivera.

— The investigations into Rep. David Rivera’s finances have top House Republicans worried and looking to distance themselves from the freshman lawmaker.

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Monday he’s “very concerned” about news stories that criminal investigators in Miami and Tallahassee are looking through the Miami Republican’s personal finances and campaign accounts. But he said leadership would wait until the case is resolved before taking action. Rivera has denied wrongdoing, and the allegations predate his congressional tenure.

Cantor said House leaders were aware of the stories and are “respectful of those investigations.

“I’m obviously very concerned about the reports surrounding those investigations,” he said at a press conference in response to a question about Rivera. “But we’ll wait to see the results."

Cantor held a fundraiser in Miami Feb. 20, which Rivera did not attend. A spokesman for Cantor said Friday that his absence was no mistake.

“Eric has concerns and he believes this was the appropriate way to handle it,” spokesman Brad Dayspring said.

A spokeswoman for Rivera noted that House Speaker John Boehner has said the House is “waiting to see how this plays out.

“We agree with this prudent stance,’’ spokeswoman Leslie Veiga said, noting that Rivera “was the first member of Congress to release his financial disclosure form” which isn’t officially due until May.

“In the meantime, Congressman Rivera will continue to be fully focused on the work of representing Congressional District 25,” she said.


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Rep. David Rivera urged to explain finances to GOP


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