Group calls for investigation into dismissal of two state foreclosure fraud lawyers

By Janet Zink, Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

Progress Florida, a St. Petersburg advocacy group, says Bondi is protecting Gov. Rick Scott’s “biggest corporate pals — the banks — instead of hard working Floridians.” It is asking for an investigation into Bondi’s actions.

“We think the big banks and the financial industry have leveraged their enormous political power to have these attorneys removed,” said Mark Ferrulo, executive director for Progress Florida.

In an interview with the Times/Herald Clarkson said that after Bondi took office, she and Edwards were questioned intensely about their ongoing cases by Richard Lawson, appointed by Bondi as head of the Economic Crimes Division.

In particular, he asked about Jacksonville-based Lender Processing Services and Tampa-based ProVest, Clarkson said.

“We were under fire like you have no idea,” Clarkson said. “It was like our home team was against us.”

Lender Processing Services donated more than $40,000 to campaigns in the 2010 election, largely to Republican candidates, including Bondi. The company donated $36,500 to the Republican Party of Florida, according to campaign finance records.

Edwards said she and Clarkson were largely cut out of the investigations once Bondi took office.

“They began inviting the defense attorneys to meet with the attorneys in Tallahassee. We were on video,” she said.

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