Ex-GOP chief gets high-profile lawyer

The lawyer for former Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer wasted no time getting to work on the case.

Cheney Mason will be busy in the next few weeks, calling on some of the top Republicans in the state to speak up about what they knew about a consulting company that was allegedly illegally funneling thousands of dollars into Greer's pocket.

In the next few weeks, Mason wants to take the sworn deposition from these political heavy hitters like Gov. Charlie Crist, current GOP Chairman John Thrasher and Attorney General Bill McCollum.

The list doesn't stop there. He also wants to talk to House Speaker Dean Cannon and Senate President Michael Haridopulous.

Mason said he's certain all of these men knew about Greer's consulting company that's at the center of  his arrest, and they knew about Greer's planned hefty severance package.

Greer is charged with fraud and grant theft for allegedly setting up a company, and then using it to funnel money from the state Republican Party into his own personal bank accounts.
 
His trial starts Oct. 18.

Before they head to trial, Greer's attorney said he filed a motion to disqualify McCollum from prosecuting this case.

"There are severe conflicting interests and he will be a material witness for the defense, perhaps unwittingly," Mason said.

There will be several other motions filed in the next few weeks -- a motion to suppress a search warrant and a motion to dismiss the case against all together.