Broward attorney Steve Rossi, known by his omnipresent bus bench ads and his unsuccessful 2008 campaign to become Fort Lauderdale mayor, made claims to Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein's investors regarding the validity of legal settlements that turned out to be bogus, according to two sources close to the investigation.
Rossi, the sources said, told the investors that he had referred legal cases to Rothstein on which some of the non-existent settlements were based. I asked Rossi about those specific allegations today on the phone.
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"I can't talk about that right now," said Rossi, a former FBI agent. "It would take too long and I don't have the time."
Rossi said he would call back. I'll update the post immediately when he does. There may be a whole different side to this story; another source told me that Rossi has made claims that he helped reveal the Rothstein scandal in the first place.
In addition to his mayoral run, Rossi has also served as an attorney for the Broward Teachers' Union and was since-imprisoned Broward School Board Member Beverly Gallagher's attorney at the time she was charged by federal agents with bribery. She hired David Bogenschutz prior to her plea deal.
[Hat tip to blogger, community activist, and former Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Tim Smith, who originated the photograph.]