During 2000 Deposition, Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Took 5th 75 times

MIAMI- In the past week, GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott has been blasted by primary opponent, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, over his refusal to release a deposition stemming from a lawsuit over his health care company, Solantic. Scott calls it a private matter, that shows zero wrong-doing, and more importantly is not relevant to his quest for the governor's mansion in Tallahassee. Scott has lambasted McCollum for" abusing his office" for political reasons by promoting these allegations.

However, new documents (a total of 45 pages) circulated by the McCollum campaign, raise new questions concerning another deposition Scott gave in 2000 over his time as head of Columbia/HCA Hospital chain. Columbia/HCA settled a $1.7 billion lawsuit over Medicare fraud allegations--- making it the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud case ever.The newly-unearthed documents show that Scott took the Fifth Amendment, 75 times during a 2000 deposition over a software dispute, not related specifically to the Medicare fraud controversy.

" Upon advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer the question by asserting my rights and privileges under the Fifth Amendment of the U.S.Constitution," Scott said repeatedly according to the deposition documents.

Scott at the time was no longer employed by Columbia/HCA but had received millions in a golden-parachute package after he was forcibly removed from the company while it was facing lawsuits and fines over the Medicare fraud.

"This is sleazy and disgusting, " Jennifer Baker, Scott Spokesman said to Fox News about the new documents." [The deposition] had absolutely nothing to do with the Columbia/HCA investigation."

Baker accused the McCollum campaign of desperate measures with only 3 days until the August 24th GOP primary. She said the McCollum campaign was trying to "sway" the election with false allegations.

Full Statement from Baker:

"Just when you think Bill McCollum and the political insiders can't get any sleazier they call on a campaign contributor to do their dirty work and once again engage in last minute desperate dirty campaign tactics. It is disgusting and it is what people hate about politics. It is why Rick Scott is running to put an end to the insider deals that place special interest and power brokers first. Next Tuesday voters will take a stand and elect Rick Scott a conservative outsider who will fight for taxpayers, create jobs and put an end to the sleazy politics of personal destruction. It is time we had a governor who cared more about Floridians' jobs than keeping his own."

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