CONFLICT

Rubio Used Influence to Boost In-Law

Got his ex-con relative a real-estate license.

The Washington Post reports that Marco Rubio used his influence as majority whip of the Florida House of Representatives to get a real-estate license for his brother-in-law, a convicted cocaine trafficker. In July 2002, Rubio wrote a letter on his official stationery to the Florida Division of Real Estate recommending Orlando Cicilia “for licensure without reservation.” The letter said that Rubio had known Cicilia for more than 25 years, but did not mention that Cicilia was married to his sister or living in the same home as Rubio’s parents. Cicilia was convicted in 1989 for distributing cocaine valued at $15 million. Rubio declined to provide comment to the Post.