WASHINGTON, June 23 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, who heads fundraising for Congressional Republicans, is under investigation for finance violations, CNN reported Saturday.
CNN said it has confirmed Buchanan is the target of four investigations. It also received documents from Sam Kazran, a former business partner, who said he has given the same material to investigators.
Buchanan, now in his third term, is in charge of fundraising for the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee. He sits on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Kazran and Buchanan were once partners in four car dealerships. They have since parted ways and are tangled in litigation.
"Mr. Buchanan is a very selfish person, and in my opinion people who go to Congress have got to do good for the people they represent," Kazran said.
Kazran told CNN that, among other schemes, Buchanan would have people write checks to his campaign and would then reimburse them secretly in cash from his corporation. When someone asked why Buchanan didn't finance his own campaigns openly, he said it would not "look good," Kazran said.
Buchanan denies any wrongdoing and has described Kazran as a disgruntled ex-partner.
