Recount story a surprise to Bush

Governor says Roberts' role `news to me'

By John Kennedy
Tallahassee Bureau

July 28, 2005

TALLAHASSEE · Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday that he was surprised by a report that U.S. Supreme Court nominee John Roberts played an influential role in Florida's 2000 presidential recount, insisting that "my relationship with him lasted about 30 minutes."

The governor, whose brother, President Bush, won the White House after the high court stopped the Florida recount by a 5-4 vote, said he huddled briefly with Roberts during the 36-day legal standoff for a "very arcane discussion."

The governor made the remarks after Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, a former domestic policy adviser to George Bush's campaign, told reporters that he brought Roberts, then a Washington lawyer, to Tallahassee to take part in the frenzied legal battle that followed the Florida contest.