WASHINGTON -- —
The investigations into Rep. David Rivera’s finances have top House
Republicans worried and looking to distance themselves from the freshman
lawmaker.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Monday
he’s “very concerned” about news stories that criminal
investigators in Miami and Tallahassee are looking through the Miami
Republican’s personal finances and campaign accounts. But he said
leadership would wait until the case is resolved before taking action.
Rivera has denied wrongdoing, and the allegations predate his
congressional tenure.
Cantor said House leaders were aware of the
stories and are “respectful of those investigations.
“I’m obviously very concerned about the
reports surrounding those investigations,” he said at a press
conference in response to a question about Rivera. “But we’ll wait
to see the results."
Cantor held a fundraiser in Miami Feb. 20, which
Rivera did not attend. A spokesman for Cantor said Friday that his
absence was no mistake.
“Eric has concerns and he believes this was the
appropriate way to handle it,” spokesman Brad Dayspring said.
A spokeswoman for Rivera noted that House Speaker
John Boehner has said the House is “waiting to see how this plays out.
“We agree with this prudent stance,’’
spokeswoman Leslie Veiga said, noting that Rivera “was the first
member of Congress to release his financial disclosure form” which
isn’t officially due until May.
“In the meantime, Congressman Rivera will
continue to be fully focused on the work of representing Congressional
District 25,” she said.