Dan Miller: Mixed emotions on special counsel
The president brought this on himself.
That’s the view of former Southwest Florida congressman Dan Miller. The Bradenton Republican said President Donald Trump’s actions created a “credibility” problem that led to the appointment of a special counsel last week to investigate potential ties between his campaign and Russia.
Regardless, Miller — who served in Congress from 1992 to 2002 — has reservations about the decision to bring in an outside investigator. He pointed to the time, cost, open-ended nature of such investigations and the pressure to “show a result.”
“They get their own momentum and it’s hard to stop,” Miller said.
“I’ve always had mixed emotions about these special prosecutors,” he added. “It adds some clarity to what’s happening and some more confidence for the nation, which is the big key. Hopefully it doesn’t drag out.”
Miller saw firsthand how a special prosecutor’s investigation can take on a life of its own and disrupt Washington, D.C., in the process. He was in office during the years when Kenneth Starr investigated former President Bill Clinton. Congress went from passing significant legislation to near paralysis.
“I think there’s a huge frustration” among Republicans in Congress now, Miller said. “There’s a desire to get stuff done but it’s going to be hard to do much up there now. I think it’s going to be a very frustrating year and Republicans could suffer a lot in the next election cycle.”
Miller has confidence in former FBI Director Robert Mueller’s ability to conduct the investigation. The congressman’s last term in office overlapped with Mueller’s first year leading the FBI.
“He’s highly respected,” Miller said, adding: “Nobody can question his integrity.”
Mueller was chosen by Deputy U.S. Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to take over the Russia investigation after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey, who had been conducting the probe.
News agencies later reported that Comey wrote a memo before he was fired stating that Trump asked him to stop investigating Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser.
Rosenstein was in the position to appoint Mueller because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Russian probe after giving false testimony to Congress about his own contacts with Russian officials.
The chain of events undermined the credibility of the investigation, Miller said. To top it off, Trump’s statements regarding the unfolding drama have contradicted his aides or raised questions about his motivations, creating more confusion and mistrust.
“It was brought about because Sessions had to step aside and firing Comey and the tweets and interviews,” Miller said. “It just has to add some credibility to it. Trump brought it on himself.”
While a special counsel may be bad news for Trump, it takes pressure off the GOP-controlled Congress. Each new revelation in the Russian drama has resulted in calls for Republican leaders to support an independent investigation. Mueller’s appointment will ease some of those concerns, and has drawn bipartisan support.
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat key, said in a statement last week that Mueller is a “great choice” to lead the investigation.
“Mueller is a man of integrity and independence who can be expected to conduct a thorough inquiry into Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election,” Buchanan said. “Mr. Mueller will get to the truth and give the American people confidence in the outcome of the investigation.”
U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, an Okeechobee Republican whose district includes southern Sarasota County, is helping to lead a separate Russia investigation in the House as a member of the Intelligence Committee. Rooney said in a statement that Mueller’s appointment “does not change my job.”
“I will continue to work with ... my colleagues on the Intelligence Committee to do our jobs in collecting all of the necessary evidence and documents before issuing our comprehensive bipartisan report at the investigation’s conclusion,” Rooney said.
Holder turns lobbyist
After falling short in his bid for a state Senate seat last year, former state Rep. Doug Holder is leveraging his knowledge of Tallahassee to boost his bank account.
Holder, a Sarasota Republican who represented southern Sarasota County in the Legislature from 2006 through 2014, joined forces with another former legislator to form the The Legis Group lobbying firm.
Legis filed its first compensation report with the state earlier this month. The report covers the period from Jan. 1 through March 31. It shows that Holder and his partner earned between $50,000 and $99,999 during that time.
Among the nine clients that sent Legis checks in the first quarter of 2017: Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Duke Energy and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
Holder and his partner also are registered to lobby for Benderson Development, which sought additional state money this year for the rowing complex at Nathan Benderson Park.
State Rep. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, filed a bill seeking $1 million from the state for the rowing complex. House records show Holder’s partner advocated for the bill as it moved through the process.
Legis hasn’t reported any compensation from Benderson yet, but company officials no doubt are pleased with their work. The Legislature put $2.5 million for the rowing complex in the budget, more than double the original request.
Latvala in Sarasota
Back in January Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam came to Sarasota at the invitation of the Argus Foundation and delivered a speech that foreshadowed his bid for governor, which he announced earlier this month.
Argus brought another potential candidate for governor, Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, to Sarasota in March to speak on the eve of the two-month legislative session.
Now the group, which bills itself as a local business leadership think tank, is announcing that state Sen. Jack Latvala — a Clearwater Republican who also is considering a campaign for governor — will speak in Sarasota in July.
Argus Executive Director Christine Robinson, who took over the nonprofit in January 2015, is turning the organization into a regular stop on the speaking circuit for Florida’s top political leaders.
Robinson said that having high-profile elected leaders visit the area serves the dual purpose of educating them on important local issues while also educating local residents on important state issues “and who the decision-makers are.”
Latvala will speak at a lunch event at the Sarasota Yacht Club on July 20. Tickets are $40 for Argus members and $50 for non-members. For reservations call 941-365-4886 or e-mail RSVP@Argusfoundation.org.
One of the capital’s leading power players, Latvala chairs the powerful appropriations committee and nearly became Senate president. He is known for being especially outspoken and blunt. He has been criticizing Corcoran over the state budget deal reached earlier this month and other issues, so it should be an interesting speech.
Swiftmud appointment
Gov. Rick Scott recently appointed Sarasota resident Joel Schleicher to sit on the Southwest Florida Water Management District board.
Schleicher, 65, runs Focal Point Data Risk, LLC. His appointment runs through March 1, 2019.
Events
• The North Port Area Republican Club meets Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Olde World Restaurant, 14415 Tamiami Trail. Lakewood Ranch Republican Club President Steve Vernon will give a presentation on the Common Core education standards. For reservations, call 941-661-0353.