Associated Press - November 4, 2009 5:44 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - In a case being called Twittergate, a Republican Party county chairman wants to know whether state party leaders knew about a fake Twitter account set up to defame him.

Brevard County GOP Chairman Jason Steele said the account used his name and photo and sent tweets that hurt his character.

One read, "Is 10:30 too early to make a drink?" Steele is recovering from alcoholism.

Police traced the account to Republican Party field operations director Tim Nungesser.

Steele said, "I am sick in my stomach over it. If they're doing it to me, who else are they doing it do?"

Nungesser was fired. The account appeared after Steele criticized the party leaders for favoring Gov. Charlie Crist in the Senate primary instead of staying neutral.

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