The FBI and Miami-Dade police have launched separate investigations into a Florida Democrat suspected of receiving secret campaign help from Republican Rep. David Rivera, the
Miami Herald reported Thursday.
According to the Herald, campaign vendors have accused Rivera of helping Justin Lamar Sternad, a political newcomer, in his failed primary bid against fellow Democrat Joe Garcia.
Garcia, a longtime Rivera rival, is now trying to unseat the Republican congressman in the general election.
Investigators are looking at whether Rivera may have covertly funded and orchestrated a sophisticated, $43,000 mail campaign promoting Sternad in an effort to defeat Garcia early on.
Federal agents have been collecting campaign records and invoices, and interviewing workers at two mail and data companies used by Sternad, the Herald said.
Both Sternad and Rivera have denied any collaboration.
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