An influential three-term congressman dodged questions about alleged ethics violations he committed while running for office.
According to CNN, Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) is facing allegations that he tried steal money from car dealerships he owned to use for his own political campaigns. He is also being accused of attempting to silence a witness --former business partner Sam Kazran--to the alleged finance fraud.
CNN on Saturday attempted to interview him about the allegations, but he remained tight-lipped.
"I wanted to ask you about this deal with Sam Kazran. Did you make him sign this affidavit to try to get him to sign this affidavit with this campaign cash scheme," asked CNN's Drew Griffin.
"No ... I got to get to another meeting, you can call my office," he said.
Griffin followed Buchanan down the hallway, asking more questions about the invesigation, but the congressman repeated: "Just call my office."
Buchanan is in charge of fundraising for the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee. He is also one of the richest members of Congress. Last month, an ethics panel found that he may have broken laws in trying to get Kazran to lie to the FEC.