Crist sees a fluster over two donations

[DoYouEverWonder]

Published February 13, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - A $500-a-plate fundraiser hosted by Donald Trump at the New York billionaire's West Palm Beach estate this month turned up a couple of potential contributors who have created some embarrassment for gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist's campaign.

One came from a former Ukrainian government official once charged with corruption in his home country who was in the United States illegally. Another came from a businessman being investigated on complaints of deceptive advertising by the attorney general's office headed by Crist.

A campaign spokeswoman told the Tampa Tribune that neither man, Volodomyr Shcherban of Ukraine or Cape Coral businessman Russell Whitney, made contributions at the fundraiser.

However, two of Whitney's companies previously had made $500 contributions, the maximum allowed. The newspaper was then told by the campaign that those contributions would be returned.

A donation was required for admission, Crist campaign spokeswoman Vivian Myrtetus said, but one donor could have brought a guest by giving both a personal contribution and from a company.

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/02/13/State/Crist_sees_a_fluster_.shtml