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Associated PressThe Senate candidate wants the records of the American Democracy Project, whose leader, a Castor critic, has ties to her rival, Peter Deutsch.
FORT LAUDERDALE - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Betty Castor on Monday demanded donor information from an independent group whose leader has ties to rival Peter Deutsch, following reports that the group would investigate her handling of University of South Florida employees with alleged links to terrorism.
Deutsch, a South Florida congressman, has denied any involvement with the American Democracy Project, a group led by Hollywood attorney Bernie Friedman, a longtime Deutsch friend.
Friedman said the group is seeking public records on how Castor, USF's president from 1993 to 1999, dealt with the cases of five former USF employees, including Sami Al-Arian. The former computer engineering professor was charged 31/2 years after Castor left office with raising money for Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a group the U.S. government says is responsible for more than 100 deaths in Israel.
Castor's campaign called the tax-exempt group "Deutsch's secretly financed front group" and urged Deutsch and the group to release information on donors, staff and consultants. The request came as the congressman was jetting across Florida on a two-day, eight-city tour to officially launch his campaign.
The group is called a "527" after the relevant tax code.
"People have a right to know who is behind these misleading, negative attacks," Castor spokesman Matt Burgess said.
Deutsch, following a campaign kickoff in Fort Lauderdale, said he had "no involvement" and "no contact" with the group.
Friedman said the group would release "every bit of information about donors and expenditures" by the end of the month. He said Castor's campaign was trying to deflect attention from her handling of allegations of terrorist activities at USF during her presidency.
Al-Arian was placed on paid leave in 1996 while he was being investigated but was allowed to return two years later. Castor's successor and the university board again suspended him shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and he was fired after his February 2003 indictment.
"It appears to be a clear pattern of callous disregard to what was going on on her campus - on her watch," Friedman said.
Castor said in a statement that the Al-Arian case has made her oppose efforts to repeal the Patriot Act, which enhanced the government's surveillance and detention powers following the 9/11 attacks. Before the act's passage, federal law enforcement agencies had shared little information about the Al-Arian investigation, she said.
"No community should have to fend for itself like USF did in this case," Castor said.
Critics of the American Democracy Project have noted Friedman's friendship with Deutsch and that the congressman's former finance director, Ryan Hampton, has helped the group raise money since leaving Deutsch's Senate campaign in April.
Friedman denied his group is working with Deutsch's campaign.
"I am absolutely, categorically not communicating or coordinating with him in any way, shape or form, and I challenge Betty Castor to prove otherwise," said Friedman. As a 527 group, it cannot expressly urge voters to support a candidate, but it can buy issue-oriented ads praising or criticizing the candidates. It can accept unlimited donations but is barred from coordinating its activities with any political campaign.
Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, a longtime critic of independent political committees, criticized the group's role during a stop in St. Petersburg.
The governor said he did not know if Castor should be blamed over Al-Arian's activities at USF, but added: "If she does, then it ought to be directly addressed in the campaign. If (Deutsch's) got a problem with one of his opponent's activities, then be a man, confront her with it. Let it be part of the campaign."
Deutsch has said he does not plan to raise the Al-Arian case in his campaign.
Deutsch was joined by family and supporters as he officially announced his candidacy in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Touting his accomplishments in Congress, Deutsch said he would work to help the state receive its fair share of federal grant money, where it currently ranks near the bottom nationally.
Deutsch and Castor face Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas in the Aug. 31 primary for the seat of retiring Sen. Bob Graham. The large field of Republicans includes former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez and Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd.