On Monday evening, the monthly Broward GOP meeting turned into a scene right out of Perry Mason or Law & Order. In front of several hundred Broward Republican activists, Nezar Hamze admitted that Javier Manjarres of The Shark Tank blog “encouraged” him to join the Broward GOP.

Mr. Hamze, executive director of CAIR South Florida, is an outspoken critic of Congressman Allen West and U.S. Senate candidate Adam Hasner. He submitted an application to join the Broward Republican Executive Committee. The application asks:

“Whom may we thank for referring you.“

BREC Vice Chair Collen Stolberg read aloud the names on Hamze’s application. One of those names was Javier Manjarres. Mr. Manjarres, an alternate committeeman and editor of The Shark Tank blog, rushed to the front of the room to deny he recommended Hamze. BREC Chairman Richard DeNapoli ask Stolberg to read the form again. She read the same names.

Then, in front of the entire audience, Hamze told Manjarres, “you’re the one that told me you believed in freedom of religion, and that I should join the BREC.”

After his role in this publicity stunt was exposed, Manjarres returned to his seat amid considerable boos and jeers from the audience.

The Committee held a vote by secret ballot on Hamze’s application for membership. De Napoli announced Hamze had been denied membership by a vote of 158 to 11.

In a videotaped interview following the meeting, Mr. Hamze told REDBROWARD.COM that Javier Manjarres did in fact “encourage” him to join the Broward GOP. Unhappy with the information going public, Mr. Manjarres chased the REDBROWARD reporter around the meeting room with his video camera. Later, in a quote in The Miami Herald, Mr. Manjarres stated, “It was a set up.”

Manjarres and Hamze have had extensive contact. Hamze’s attempt to join the Broward GOP has been the subject of numerous Shark Tank stories:

Also, Mr. Hamze appeared in previous Shark Tank stories regarding Congressman Allen West:

Hamze and members of CAIR conducted frequent protests at Congressman Allen West events and town hall meetings. Manjarres and his Shark Tank associates were on hand to capture these publicity stunts

The interview below was conducted after the meeting was adjourned.