A Florida couple intercepted the call on a police scanner, and the couple gave a recording of the call to McDermott, then the top Democrat on the Ethics Committee. McDermott gave the recording to the New York Times, and that’s when Boehner turned to Cruz for legal advice.
“The fund-raising letter is much ado about nothing,” Cruz told the Seattle Times at the time. “Congressman McDermott has consistently attempted to delay the litigation and drive up the expense. It is reasonably expected that Congressman Boehner will use the means at his disposal to raise the funds to pursue this lawsuit.”
Cruz wasn’t on the case for long, and eventually Boehner won the legal battle and was awarded more than $1 million in 2004.
In addition to denying his past with Boehner, Cruz also linked the former Speaker to Donald Trump.
“John Boehner... allowed his inner Trump to come out,” Cruz said.
