Seminole GOP Chair’s Trial in ‘Ghost’ Candidate Case Starts Today

Aug 29, 2022 - 10:51 Updated: Sep 3, 2022 - 10:53

Seminole GOP Chair’s Trial in ‘Ghost’ Candidate Case Starts Today

Jury selection is expected to begin this morning for the trial of Seminole County GOP Chairman Ben Paris, who is accused of contributing in his cousin’s name to independent “ghost” candidate Jestine Iannotti’s campaign in 2020.

Paris, 38, is facing a misdemeanor charge in the scheme, which apparently was an attempt to aid Republican Sen. Jason Brodeur, who was Paris’ boss at the Seminole County Chamber of Commerce at the time of the race. Brodeur has denied any knowledge of his former employee’s actions. Iannotti, who is facing a felony charge and five misdemeanors, is expected to testify that Paris asked her to run in the highly competitive state Senate race, according to a court filing last week. She was one of three independent candidates who ran for Senate seats in 2020 and, though they did not campaign, were promoted as progressives in an advertisement blitz paid for by a group linked to consultants working closely with Florida Power & Light.

Paris is accused of contributing to Iannotti’s campaign in his cousin Steven Smith’s name. Paris allegedly placed an 87-second call to Smith on June 19, 2020, and Smith is expected to testify that Paris requested to use his name and address to make a contribution to a candidate.

Smith told Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators that Paris told him he wanted to use Smith’s name to contribute to a friend’s campaign but couldn’t do it in his own name because he had reached the legal contribution limit, records show. But the state’s campaign finance records show that Paris never contributed to Iannotti’s campaign in his own name.

After ending his call with Smith, records show Paris immediately texted consultant Eric Foglesong, who helped Iannotti become a candidate and signed the check that paid her qualifying fee. Foglesong is facing three felony and two misdemeanor charges for incorrectly reporting campaign contributions.

Paris’ attorney filed a motion last Friday to try to prevent the state from using the terms “ghost” or “straw” candidate, from mentioning that Paris allegedly asked Iannotti to run and from discussing any efforts to siphon votes away from a particular candidate during the trial.

Mentioning the “ghost” candidate scheme would “become the feature of the trial,” even though it is legal and not the crime for which Paris faces a criminal charge, attorney Matthews Bark wrote.

“The defendant should not be convicted with the crime he is charged with because he may or may not have participated in an act that while not unlawful has been looked upon with disdain,” Bark wrote to the Court.

The scheme almost certainly helped secure victory for Brodeur, who represents the Senate seat that covers Seminole County and part of Volusia County. He’s seeking reelection to represent the district, which now takes in part of northern Orange County and no longer includes Volusia.

Paris, Iannotti and Foglesong are among five people who have faced criminal charges in connection with the “ghost” candidate scheme.

In South Florida’s state Senate District 37, former lawmaker Frank Artiles is accused of paying his friend Alex Rodriguez nearly $45,000 to run as an independent spoiler candidate in 2020. Rodriguez, who received more than 6,000 votes, pleaded guilty and is expected to testify against Artiles at his trial next month.

Democrat José Javier Rodríguez lost that race by 32 votes to Republican Ileana Garcia.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Portions of this story sourced from the Orlando Sentiinel.