Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani Both Have Campaign Personel in Trouble

In recent news, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani both have had someone involved in their campaign running into some legal trouble.

On Tuesday, South Carolina Treasurer Thomas Ravenel was indicted on federal cocaine charges, as reported by the Associated Press. Ravenel, a former real estate developer, is also the state chairman for former New York Mayor and hopeful Rudy Giuliani. Ravenel has been calling a rising political star in his own right.

Ravenel has been accused of buying less than 500 grams of cocaine with the intention of sharing it with other people in late 2005, according to U.S. Attorney Reggie Lloyd. State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said that his agents were aware of the allegations against Ravenel last year prior to his election in November. The case originally stemmed from a drug case last year in Charleston. Ravenel's case was turned over to the FBI on April 1 "when the investigation reached a certain level," per Stewart. He continued that "There was nothing we could take action on prior to the election."

Michael L. Miller, who is in jail on separate charges, has been indicted along with Ravenel because he is accused of selling Ravenel the drugs. The FBI has taken over the case because Revenel is in charge of handling state financial matters and decisions.

Jay Garrity, an aide to Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and Presidential hopeful, has taken a leave of absence as he is being investigated for impersonating a law enforcement officer, reports the Associated Press.

Garrity serves as director of operations and is said to always be at Romney's side. He is accused of impersonating and officer in two states. The allegations stem from Garrity's having left a long message with the answering service of a plumbing company on Mother's Day. In the message, Garrity identified himself as "Trooper Garrity" of the Massachusetts State Police and complained of the poor driving of a one of the company's drivers.

Dot Barme, of Wayne's Drains, the company that the call was made too, heard the message. She told the Associated Press that "Listening to the message, it sounded like he was calling control and speaking back and forth to people... "I had my husband listen to it and he said, 'He's not talking to anybody; he's talking back and forth to himself."

An attorney representing Garrity, Stephen Jones, denied that his client made the call and said that Garrity has no connection with the cell phone from which the call was placed.

Sources:

White House Hopeful Rudy Giuliani's South Carolina Campaign Chairman Indicted on Cocaine Charges

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,284637,00.html

Romney Aide Takes Leave Amid Allegations He Impersonated a Law Enforcement Officer

Friday, June 22, 2007

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286152,00.html