Florida GOP Staffer's Credit Card Charges: $1.3 Million

In a statement obtained by Talking Points Memo, Phister, who served as finance director for state House campaigns, said she didn't rack up all the expenses herself, and that her bosses had access to her AmEx:

Charges on the card were incurred in relation to the duties of raising money for the Party, and as directed by Rep. Sansom in his role as the Speaker-Designate. I did not have the sole discretion to initiate credit card spending. Over that period of time, there were multiple instances when the card was used to make purchases that I had no knowledge of, and I did not regularly review the monthly credit card statements which I understand were sent directly to the Party's accounting office.

The GOP said Phister's spending was "incurred in relation to her duties as finance director for house campaigns during the 2008 election cycle, and as directed by Rep. Sansom in his role as Speaker Designate."

Sansom was indicted last year on charges of inserting $6 million into the state budget for an airport building that a friend and GOP contributor wanted to use as an airplane hangar. During the investigation, it was revealed that Sansom charged more than $170,000 in personal items on his party-issued credit card.

The Florida Republican Party has hired an accounting firm to conduct an independent audit of the party's finances.