Two of Ray Sansom's colleagues in the Florida House blasted the grand jury findings.

Rep. Kevin Amber, R-Tampa: "I'm a former federal prosecutor and I ran grand juries. I could indict a ham sandwich if I wanted to,'' Ambler said. "You're hearing one side. You're hearing the prosecutors selection of evidences he wants them to hear to reach the conclusion the prosecutor wants them to reach.''

Rep. David Rivera, R-Miami: "The American political system was indicted," adding he hadn't read the document. "If those grand jurors served in the Legislature for two years they would have come to a much different conclusion...It was a runaway grand jury."

"You want to outlaw political donations? Is that what they want?'' Rivera said.

"As long as the process provides transparency towards who's giving and in what amount that gives them the protection for their First Amendment right to contribute to the candidates that they choose,'' Ambler.

"This is how every Legislature in the country is operating. This is how Congress operates,'' Ambler said.

"It reinforces in my view the statements that were made by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor that says our country is sorely lacking in education of civics. We have nation of adults that doesn't understand how the political system works. They are judging the system simply by the headline they read in the press and if they were to become properly educated in the democratic system they would have much better confidence that the system has checks and balances."

--- Reporting by Mary Ellen Klas