McCollum Was Warned That George Rekers Testimony Was Suspect, Says TWO
NEW YORK — Truth Wins Out called on Florida Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum to return $120,000 in taxpayer’ money that he used to hire anti-gay activist Dr. George A. Rekers to testify in favor of the state’ gay adoption ban. According to records made public on Thursday, McCollum had been strongly warned against hiring Rekers by the lead attorney in the case to uphold the ban. Yet, he went out of his way to ensure Rekers was placed on the payroll.
According to the Sarasota Tribune, Assistant Attorney General Valerie Martin wrote in a July 2007 e-mail that after talking to Arkansas officials and reviewing the background of the former University of South Carolina professor that she would “recommend NOT using him.” E-mails also show that during a conference call Martin — who said the state considered more than 30 possible expert witnesses — was ordered to hire Rekers “against my strong cautions.”
“Instead of doing the right thing, McCollum was working for the right wing and not serving the citizens of Florida,” said Truth Wins Out’ Executive Director Wayne Besen. “McCollum should immediately refund Florida taxpayers and refrain in the future from abusing his position and spending tax dollars to support his extreme ideology.”
