By Javier Manjarres

Congressman Cliff Stearns is coming under increasing scrutiny amid allegations that he was involved in an attempt to bribe James Jett, the Clay Count Clerk of Court to leave their contested Republican primary race.  Jett contends that the bribe came from Stearn’s handlers which encouraged him to leave their Republican primary race.  Jett alleges that one of the offers was a payoff of $25,000 that would pay off his outstanding congressional campaign debt.

Jett also said that he was offered a several jobs- one that would have him heading the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida’s top law enforcement agency, or a possible U.S. Marshall position if and when such a opening became available.  Jett claims that the FBI is currently investigating this matter, but as usual, the FBI is neither confirming or denying that there is an active investigation is underway.

Stearns is running against both Jett and State Legislator Steve Oelrich in the newly drawn 3rd Congressional District, and he could be attempting to shore up support where he doesn’t have it.  The new congressional district includes Clay County, a county that Jett just about owns in terms of name recognition and support.  But because Stearns is at an obvious disadvantage against Jett, it’s possible that the allegations against Stearns could be rooted in an attempt to both neutralize Jett’s support and take potential votes away from the real threat in the race, State Senator Steve Oelrich, the popular former Sheriff of Alachua County. Senator Oelrich currently represents about 2/3 of the new congressional district which totals eight counties, but doesn’t have name recognition in Clay county.

Stearns does not represent Clay County and he could view Jett’s exit from the race as an opportunity to to woo voters away from voting for Oelrich.

In this contested primary, a three-way split of the vote could mean a defeat for Congressman Stearns because Oerlich will most likely retain the support of his home county and the fact that Jett will likely carry Clay County.

 Voicemails that Jett said are from Sapp include talk of a meeting with “Jim” and others to finalize a deal. One says the meeting was to take place at Sapp’s waterfront home on March 2, Jett said, at a gathering that was to include U.S. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.

Jett said he asked about wearing a microphone to the party at Sapp’s house, but the FBI wouldn’t let him wear a wire in Boehner’s presence.

Stearns’ spokesman, Paul Flusche, issued a scathing denial statement. Jett is promoting his own candidacy, Flusche said, and the congressman never talked to Jett about leaving the race.

“This is a pure and simple political maneuver by Mr. Jett to illegally entrap former friends for vindictive reasons,” Flusche said. “His actions as an elected official are contemptuous. Mr. Jett’s allegations arose from his own solicitations and strategies for compensation to remove himself as a candidate once he found out that Rep. Stearns would be running in the newly formed district.”

Jett said he doesn’t believe Boehner was aware of the conversations.

“This has national ramifications, and I don’t want to harm the Republican Party,” Jett said.

Florida law requires constitutional officers such as clerks of court to report potential corruption, Jett said. He said the FBI gave him permission to speak publicly.-Florida Times-Union

In his notarized and signed ‘Chronology of Events’ statement, Jett alleges that on February 23, 2012, a representative for Boehner had told him that Boehner would make him an offer to drop out of the race against Stearns because he wanted Stearns to continue his Solyndra investigation. (Read Jett’s Chronology of Events Document)