The Associated Press picked up CREW's FEC complaint against Rep. Vern Buchanan (F-FL) and it's been running in papers around the Sunshine State.   While we've heard the perfunctory denials from the Buchanan camp , Melanie Sloan made it clear that CREW believes Buchanan played a role in this scandal:

Buchanan, a Republican, was elected in 2006 and represents an area that includes Sarasota and Bradenton. The complaint was filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and two former dealership employees. It alleges at least seven employees at two Buchanan-owned dealerships were either reimbursed or coerced into making $1,000 campaign contributions.

Buchanan is not said in the complaint to have directly asked for the contributions, but he did know about them, according to Melanie Sloan, the executive director of the watchdog group.

"It's our understanding that Vern Buchanan was involved. These are Vern Buchanan's dealerships, so none of this could have been happening without Vern Buchanan knowing about it," Sloan said.

A spokeswoman for Buchanan responded that it is the campaign's policy "that all contributions comply fully with FEC regulations."