The widow of Republican Florida Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young sent a personal email to former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist to tell him his presence at her late husband’s funeral would be “unacceptable.”
“This e-mail is to officially advise you that your presence at my husband’s memorial services will be unacceptable,” Beverly Young, whose husband died last week, wrote to Mr. Crist, according to Fox News. “I have watched over the years, as Bill had, your transparent attempts to manipulate the political arena.
“I don’t want my husband’s memorial service to be another opportunity for that and I will not tolerate anyone turning this into a platform for political gain. Please honor my family’s request,” she wrote.
Mr. Crist was a Republican for most of his governorship until 2010 when he ran for Senate as an independent. He then became a Democrat in 2012.
Mr. Young died Friday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., due to “complications related to a chronic injury,” his family said.
The funeral starts at 1 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Indian Rocks in Largo, Fla. Officials expect a crowd of 4,000 to 6,000, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
House Speaker John Boehner and Rep. Steny Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, are among those expected to give eulogies Thursday.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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