Another Republican driven by money and power ends up in hot water. Surprise! Imagine that, a member of the GOP caring more about himself than the people he represents. This time it’s Florida millionaire Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan who happens to be in charge of fundraising for the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee and sits on the powerful House Ways and Means committee, too. 

Not for long:

(CNN)–  Federal investigations underway could result in Buchanan serving his next term behind bars.

CNN has confirmed there are no fewer than four congressional and federal investigations into Buchanan’s business practices, his campaign finances and his alleged attempt to try to stop a witness from talking. [...]

Buchanan’s former business partner says the congressman schemed to launder money from his car dealerships into his campaign coffers, and then tried to get others to cover it up.

But here’s the, ahem, “money” quote, if you will:

People who never gave money to campaigns were suddenly writing big checks to Buchanan for Congress and, according to Kazran, getting reimbursed from the dealership. It added up to almost $70,000 at Kazran’s dealership alone, he said.

“I remember one of the partners jokingly saying, ‘Boss, you have all the money in the world. Why do you want us to pay you the money?’ And he said, ‘Well, it doesn’t look good if it’s coming from me.’”   

Psst! “Boss”… it doesn’t look too good now, does it?

“Run it through the corporation.” “Sign a statement that was a lie.” “Shroud of secrecy.” What a guy. And he’s the RCCC fundraiser-in-chief. The GOP sure can pick ‘em.