Sansom passing the hat
TALLAHASSEE -- The brother of former House speaker Ray Sansom is soliciting contributions for a legal-defense fund, with a sort of money-back guarantee if the Panhandle lawmaker beats "politically motivated" charges of official misconduct and perjury.
Randall Sansom of Gulf Breeze, a certified public accountant,
wrote a brief note that was received by some Tallahassee lobbyists. It says Sansom is facing legal bills of about $100,000 to fight the felony charges handed up by a Tallahassee grand jury.
"In my opinion, this indictment is politically motivated and the state attorney has misrepresented the facts to the grand jury to push his own agenda," said the letter. "Unfortunately, Ray now has to hire an attorney to properly present the facts and have his day in court to prove his innocence."
Rep. Sansom was indicted along with Bob Richburg, former president of Northwest Florida State College, on charges of official misconduct and perjury. Panhandle developer Jay Odom, a friend of Sansom's and major campaign contributor to the former House speaker and Florida Republican Party, was indicted last month on the official-misconduct count.
Rep. Sansom, Richburg and Odom were accused of arranging an airport complex, purportedly as a multiuse training facility for the college and emergency staging area for Okaloosa County, to be used by Odom's jets. A $6 million appropriation was included in the state budget for the hangar project, which has not been built.
All three men have denied the accusations.
Randy Sansom said in his letter that all money raised will be used for his brother's defense -- and that some of it might be recovered.
"Once Ray is exonerated, the state of Florida may be liable to repay Ray's legal costs and
all of your funds contributed will be refunded," he wrote. "However, until this day occurs, we need to help Ray raise the money to pay these costs."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Linear Mode
