By Mark K. Matthews, Orlando Sentinel, August 7, 2006

8 Aug 2006 // A fundraiser in Miami two years ago is the subject of an elections complaint filed Monday against U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.

A watchdog group filed the complaint against Martinez and the sponsor of the fundraising event, Bacardi USA.

Representatives of Martinez and Bacardi USA called the filing unfounded.

In the complaint, filed with the Federal Election Commission, the group accuses Bacardi of improperly helping Martinez by using its corporate offices for the fundraiser, serving $500 in refreshments and tapping a company vendor list to solicit donations.

Under law, companies cannot directly help federal campaigns.

The watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, also alleges the Martinez camp masked donations from Bacardi executives by not properly disclosing their occupations on filings with the FEC.

"I don't see this blatant [a] misstep that often," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of CREW, referring to a political fundraiser held in a corporate office. She said the Martinez campaign raised more than $60,000 through the fundraiser, held May 11, 2004.

The FEC, which would review the complaint, does not comment on investigations until their conclusion.

Nancy Watkins, treasurer of the Martinez campaign, dismissed the accusations. "Anyone can write anything to the FEC," she said, saying the group has a liberal agenda. "When I look at something from CREW, I look at it as if it was something from the DNC [Democratic National Committee]."

Bacardi representatives also downplayed the complaint, noting the basis of CREW's allegations stems from a voluntary admission the company brought to the FEC more than two years ago.

"The complaint filed against Bacardi today is rife with factual errors and without merit. For example, our event raised nowhere near the amount they claim," a company statement read.

This is the second complaint CREW has filed against the Martinez campaign or its supporters. In 2004, the Washington-based organization questioned a Miami luncheon hosted by an anti-Castro group, accusing the US-Cuba Democracy PAC of improperly funding Martinez's Senate campaign.

The two sides settled in 2005. Under the decision, members of the US-Cuba Democracy PAC agreed to send two members to an FEC seminar on campaign -reporting requirements.

Sloan, from CREW, said her group is nonpartisan and looks into the actions of Republicans and Democrats.