Rick Scott circles the drain
As Florida first-term GOP senator Rick Scott positions himself for a 2024 White House run, let’s remember who he is. Most recently, Scott, former two-term governor of Florida, on Nov. 10 was elected chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
Here’s part of his gaslighting statement pertaining to his election, which came after the GOP lost control of the Senate: “Keeping a Senate majority is vitally important to the future of this country. Republicans are fighting for lower taxes, better jobs and opportunity, a secure border and safe communities. We know Democrats want the opposite – socialism, Medicare-for-all, defunding the police and the Green New Deal – and we won’t accept that.”
The mention of Medicare was particularly galling, since as CEO of Columbia/HCA, the largest for-profit hospital chain in the U.S. in the 1990s, the company pleaded guilty to 14 felony crimes for defrauding Medicare and Medicaid, paying a $1.7 billion fine – the then-biggest fine ever in such a case.
Scott was forced out, but not before receiving $300 million in stock and options, and at least $10 million in cash, including $5 million payable under a consulting agreement by agreeing to leave the company.
A few years later, in a civil lawsuit in which Scott was sued by a Nevada communications company, tangentially related to the fraud case, Scott invoked the 5th Amendment against self-incrimination 75 times, including when asked if he was employed.
“Under normal circumstances, Mr. Scott would be pleased to answer that question and other questions that you pose today,” said Scott’s lawyer, Steven Steinbach. “Unfortunately because of the pendency of a number of criminal investigations relating to Columbia around the country, he’s going to follow my advice, out of prudence, to assert his constitutional privilege against giving testimony against himself.”
Sounds like the perfect 2024 GOP presidential candidate.
