The lobbyist arrested last week with Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla on public corruption charges — including money laundering, bribery and criminal conspiracy — has given campaign checks to other politicians and political action committees.
Our local campaign finance watchdog Dani Rivera took a peek at some reports this week and found that Pristine DE LLC — a corporation opened by Bill Riley Jr. to, authorities say, funnel money from his clients to Diaz de la Portilla in exchange for a public park — has given more than half a million to other candidates and PACs since June of 2020.
Pristine gave last year to Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo‘s campaign. But that was just $1,000. And it was the only direct contribution. The rest went to PACs.
Diaz de la Portilla got the lion’s share, with $375,000 of the $536K doled out by Pristine going to his two PACs, Proven Leadership for Miami-Dade and Local Leadership for Miami-Dade.
Read related: Miami’s Alex Diaz de la Portilla arrested on corruption, pay-for-play park deal
Riley’s company also gave to PACs controlled by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez ($25,000), Miami Commissioner Manolo Reyes ($10,000), Miami-Dade Commissoner Kevin Cabrera ($30,000) and former State Rep. turned lobbyist Jose Felix “Pepi” Diaz ($95,000).
There’s also the possibility of some cross-pollination with Rebuild Florida, Diaz’s PAC, which redistributes the money across Florida PACs and Republican candidates. For example, Rebuild gave ADLP’s PAC at least $7,500.
Later, Rivera found a $20,000 contribution to Republican SuperPAC Defeating Communism. So let’s bring the new expenditure total to $556,000.
But according to the affidavit for Riley’s arrest, bank records that were subpoenaed show he transferred only $395,000 in three separate deposits from the Centner family — who wanted to develop a recreational complex on a public park. So where did Pristine (read: Riley) get the other $161,000?
And, more importantly, what no-bid contract or public giveaway is he buying?
Well, maybe it will be in July’s report, which isn’t due ’til next month.
Read related: New Florida law gives us less campaign finance reporting, less transparency
As we have learned this week, campaign finance reports are an important tool in uncovering bribes and other graft — which discourages bribery and other graft. Due to recent changes in Florida campaign finance reporting laws, making it a quarterly requirement rather than monthly, treasurer’s reports for July, August and this month are not due until Oct. 10.
“This makes it so much easier for corruption to flourish,” Rivera said.
And that is obviously what the legislature had in mind.
Everyone should reach out to their Florida state rep and senator and demand that they bring back monthly reporting.
Lobbyist arrested for corruption with ADLP gave to more politicians, PACs added by Ladra on
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