Feds Probe Candidate With Possible Ties to Rep. Rivera

The FBI and Miami-Dade police have launched separate investigations into a Florida Democrat suspected of receiving secret help from Republican Rep. David Rivera, The Miami Herald reported Thursday.

The Herald has reported that campaign vendors say Rivera helped Justin Lamar Sternad, a political newcomer, in his failed primary bid against Joe Garcia. Garcia, a longtime Rivera rival, is now trying to unseat Rivera in the general election.

Investigators are looking at whether Rivera may have covertly funded and orchestrated Sternad’s $43,000 sophisticated mail campaign. 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.