List of Michigan donors to Alaskan's Midnight Sun PAC is rather Dis-Honorable

The list of donors from Michign who have ever given money to the Midnight Sun PAC, Rep. Don Young's so-called leadership PAC, is rather short as one might expect given Young hails from Alaska. Just five donors. But those five donors, some bordering on infamous, made seven contributions totaling $23,500.

Further, a review of the short-list reveals a rather "Dis-Honorable Roll" of donors.
Ironically, book-ending this list are Detroiters Herbert J. Strather and Michael J. Malk, Sr.; one time partners, who respectively made the first and last contributions Midnight Sun PAC has ever received from Michigan donors. And sandwiched in the middle is Daniel J. Aronoff.

Malik and Strather were behind the legalization of commercial gambling in Detroit and were considered founders of Detroit's MotorCity Casino. However, the pair were among a handful of "investors" who were disqualified from receiving gaming licenses by the Michigan Gambling Control Board (MGCB) and as such had to dump their interests in the casino before it could open its doors. Among various considerations, Malik had recently been arrested for beating the 12-year-old son of a girlfriend and reportedly had IRS issues; and Strather, among other things, had previously been convicted of bribery.

Malik
For nearly a decade, Mike Malik has sought Rep. Young's help advancing unorthodox plans the casino syndicator is bankrolling for an Indian Casino in Port Huron, Michigan; and other earmark matters involving the Bay Mills Indian Community. (Anchorage Daily News: Alaska's Young a leader in Michigan Indian casino fight).

In 2005-06, Malik and his partners, members of Detroit's Ilitch family, were among the top five donors to Young's political committee and they gave Young the highest grossing day of fundraising he had in that entire two year campaign cycle . Only those affiliated with Veco (Bill Allen, Rick Smith), JHT Holdings (Dennis Troha) and Carnival Corp. contributed more than Malik/Ilitch Family. Vecco execs have plead guilty to political corruption charges and Troha has already been indicted on similar charges he "reimbursed" family members who contributed to various candidates.

Mike Malik is developing a pattern of political campaign finance violations. His affiliate Barwest LLC (another of his partnerships with Detroit's Marian Ilitch) was found to have violated California's political reform laws on two counts for failing to disclose a $26,600 contribution it made to former Rep. Richard Pombo's County GOP Victory Committee. Malik used Barwest to front private aircraft travel for Rep. Young.

Malik is the subject of an ongoing investigation by California's Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) because he denied making another $26,000+ in contributions to the committees of various California lawmakers in 2006 -- at the same time the previous FPPC investigation was concluding.

Strather & Dalgleish
Similarly, Herb Strather has bankrolled efforts to get approvals needed to build a large casino resort on Cape Cod in partnership with the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe. Young sat as Chair, Vice Chair and then ranking member of the House Resources Committee which has oversight for Indian matters.

Strather put $4 million into a hidden fund that enabled his partner, former tribal chairman Glenn Marshall, to carry out a scheme of illegal campaign finance activity including reimbursements to other so-called "donors." Marshall and other such "donors" from the tribe contributed to Midnight Sun PAC on the same date Strather and Mary Ann Dalgleish, a Strather & Associates Vice President, contributed to the PAC. We will assume Strather knew better than to reimburse Dalgleish for her contribution.

Dalgleish was apparently one of 100+ "investors" Strather recruited to syndicate Atwater Entertainment Associates LLC in the mid-1990s although Dalgleish had a personal history of financial hardship. AEA is the entity Strather syndicated to bankroll the legalization of gaming in Detroit and start MotorCity Casino. Dalgleish may also have been an investor in AtMashpee LLC, the syndication Strather organized to bankroll the Mashpee Wampanoag casino plans.

Aronoff
Appearing predictably on the PAC list three times -- and of all things, at the center of the list -- is Daniel Aronoff, perhaps so far the most publicly notorious donor on this list. (Note that the entry for Aronoff's most recent contribution has his last name misspelled as Aaronoff -- error or intention?).

Aronoff owns land in Florida and is the Michigan-based real estate developer at the center of the scandal and investigation into a $10 million earmark advanced by Rep. Young that was designated for improvements to the Coconut Road interchange off Florida's I-75. The project would have significant value to Aronoff who was a prodigious fundraiser for Young.

Aronoff, Malik and Strather have similar patterns of interaction with Young and have been significant bundlers/fundraisers for Young's various political committees, GOP causes and closest allies (former Reps Richard Pombo, John Doolittle, etc.). They've flown Young around in private aircraft, organized fundraisers, hired the some of the same notorious lobbyists and in exchange, sought help from Rep. Young above and beyond the norm.

Wend
The fifth Michigan donor on the list is Dennis Wend, who is referred to as a government employee albeit the only government employee from Michigan to contribute to Midnight Sun PAC -- and contribute $3,000.

Wend is executive director of technology transfer at the United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, located at the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren. He contributed to Midnight Sun PAC only after he was given the spotlight in 2004 & 2005 at Alaska's Clean Energy Symposium I & II.

Dan Feliz: further background on D.C. lobbyist employed at Potomac Partners D.C.

The following provides additional insight into the background of D.C. lobbyist Dan Feliz (Daniel Feliz), employed by Potomac Partners D.C., a firm owned by lobbyist Rick Alcalde (Richard Alcalde).

From an essay written by Feliz and linked to the Web site of the United States Naval Academy's English Department:

What An English Major Has Done For Me
By LT D.X. Feliz, USN

...My education in the Navy for me did become a way of life. In was through books and lively classroom discussion that I learned how to learn, how to listen, and how to express myself. These finer touches of communication opened incredible opportunities for me at the Naval Academy and beyond its walls. Because I was an English major I was able to pursue a graduate degree at Harvard University after graduation. Because I was an English major I was selected for a Congressional internship in Washington D.C. Because I was an English major I served as the ship’s public affairs officer and helped the USS Maine earn the Admiral Thompson award for excellence in public affairs. And the best opportunity my major has afforded me is the chance to return to the Naval Academy to share my love of literature with future naval officers.

Hopefully I can pay forward these opportunities to my students and fellow English majors.

Daniel Feliz
LT, USN
Submarine Officer
USNA Class of 1997
M.P.P., Harvard University '99

NOTE: Daniel X. Feliz may have been an intern for Rep. John T. Doolittle. He may have been nominated to attend the USNA, Annapolis, by Rep. Doolittle. His father John Feliz is a long-time political operative for Doolittle and managed Doolittle's first campaign for public office. Daniel Feliz first registered as a D.C. lobbyist in 2005 and made a contribution 9.30.06 to Doolittle's campaign which falsely recorded Feliz's occupation as "retired."

Tangled web of corruption in race to replace Rep. Doolittle; includes ties to Detroit gambling interests

Rep. John T. Doolittle is under federal criminal investigation in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Doolittle in his ninth term representing California's 4th Congressional District but announced in January that he would retire.

Tom McClintock is the darling of California conservatives. He ran for Governor against Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003. McClintock, who hails from Ventura County decided last Spring to pack up and move 350 miles away, in order to run for Doolittle's seat in the 4th CD. He succeeded in winning the GOP nomination.

John Feliz
McClintock's campaign manager is John Feliz, a GOP political operative who got his start helping Doolittle in his first campaign for public office. Feliz and Doolittle were fined on several counts for violating California election law in that campaign.

John Feliz has ties to former Rep. Richard Pombo. And Feliz's son, James Feliz, then a college student at University of the Pacific was involved in recruiting college students to work in Pombo's failed '06 re-election bid.

JohnsonClark Associates
Also tied to these politicos is a Sacramento-based political consulting firm JohnsonClark Associates. The firms president Wayne Johnson is the president of the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC).

Pombo's campaign paid JohnsonClark more than $2.68 million during his '06 re-election campaign. Doolittle's campaign paid JohnsonClark $96,355 during the same campaign.

David Bauer, CFO at JohnsonClark, is treasurer for "McClintock for Congress." Pombo's campaign paid Bauer more than $53,000 during the '06 cycle for accounting services. Doolittle paid Bauer more than $18,000 for accounting services in the '06 cycle.

Partnership for America
According to a report 5.05.08 in The Hill:

A California-based group and other local officials filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint Monday [5.05.08] regarding the alleged ties between an ex-aide to Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) and state Sen. Tom McClintock (R)...

At issue is the role of Steve Ding — an ex-McClintock consultant and former chief of staff for Pombo — and The Partnership for America, a 501(c)4 advocacy group headed by Pombo.

McClatchy recently reported that Pombo’s group is organizing a $660,000 independent campaign in the 4th congressional district...

Ding was soliciting donors for the Partnership for America during an April 22 National Indian Gaming Association meeting...

Dan Feliz & Rick Alcalde
Another Feliz son, Daniel "Dan" Feliz is now registered as a D.C. lobbyist employed at Potomac Partners D.C. by Richard "Rick" Alcalde. Dan Feliz is a rookie lobbyist who has no relevant Capitol Hill experience other than being an intern. He graduated from the Navy Academy at Annapolis and attend Harvard.

Alcalde and Dan Feliz are contributors to Doolittle. Dan Feliz registered as a D.C. lobbyist on 5.01.06. Then on 9.30.06 Feliz made a $500 contribution to Doolittle's campaign but treasuer David Bauer falsely reported the younger Feliz as "retired" rather than as a "lobbyist." Certainly they all know the rookie lobbyist is not "retired." Why were they attempting to conceal that information?

Alcalde is one of Rep. Don Young's "A-Team" lobbyists who finds himself at the center of the $10 million Coconut Road, FL, earmark scandal involving Young (R-AK). Alcalde and Dan Feliz represent Daniel Aronoff (Landon Companies), the Michigan developer who reportedly raised funds for Young, flew him around in a private yet and stood to benefit greatly from the earmark.

Michael Malik & Marian Ilitch
Alcalde and Dan Feliz also represent Detroit casino syndicator Michael Malik (MJM Enterprises) and one of Malik's partners, the Shinnecock Indian Nation. Malik's business partner is Mrs. Marian Ilitch -- she owns Detroit's MotorCity Casino and co-owns the Detroit Red Wings and Little Ceasars Pizza.

Malik and Ilitch family members have contributed and raised more than $100,000 for Pombo and Young. They've also fronted travel and entertainment costs for the pair totaling more than $41,000. There are no direct contributions to Doolittle. But they've given nearly $97,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee; and at least $50,000 to the Republican National Committee.

And Detroit-based Malik has previously contributed $5,600 to Tom McClintock's California campaign.

Among other casino ventures throughout the U.S., Malik & Ilitch formed BarWest LLC and have pursued several failed attempts to bring Indian gaming to Barstow, CA.

Malik & BarWest were fined in California for failing to report a $26,000 contribution they made in 2004 to Pombo's San Joaquin County GOP Victory Committee. They are currently under investigation in California for failing to report a string of 2006 political contributions and for irregularities in lobbying reports and payments.

Although never publicly acknowledged, documents obtained by TVT suggest John Feliz has been involved behind the scenes with Malik & Ilitch on their plans for casino development in California.

And JohnsonClark's CFO David Bauer has provided bookkeeping and political reporting services to Malik/Ilitch affiliates.

Why was the Earp Cohn law firm investigating "Dan Feliz?"

Someone at the Earp Cohn law firm has been reviewing posts at TVT regarding "Dan Feliz."

Among the Earp Cohn firm's key practice areas: White Collar Criminal Defense and Government Enforcement.

The law firm's Web site indicates:

Our white collar defense practitioners have a proven record of success for individual and corporate clients in complex government investigations. Our lawyers include former federal and state prosecutors with many decades of experience on both sides of the isle [sic]. They know how prosecutors and investigating criminal agents plan and conduct their investigations. They have the savvy and the willingness to fight for their clients that these high stakes situations require...

Public Corruption, Campaign Finance, and Election Law Fraud

We have successfully represented public officials who have been the targets of investigations and prosecutions and private individuals who have been targeted by prosecutorial and administrative bodies for campaign finance and election law violations...

You may want to review these additional posts:

• Doolittle committee disclosure falsely reported young rookie lobbyist (son of a Doolittle political operative) as “retired”
• Rep. John Doolittle's longtime political operative maneuvering behind the scenes of Barstow casino project
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• Alcalde is latest controversial player on the Ilitch/Malik DC Team
• D.C. Lobbyists for Michael Malik's Port Huron casino scheme terminated
• Why did Sen. Carl Levin's political committee return $4,600 from Mike Ilitch?
• Look who took part in preliminary discussions about Big Lagoon/Los Coyotes casinos

Doolittle, six aides hit with grand jury subpoenas

8.27.07

Doolittle, six aides hit with grand jury subpoenas

A federal grand jury has issued subpoenas to six aides to embattled GOP Rep. John Doolittle (Calif.), who is under investigation by the Justice Dept. over his ties to imprisoned former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The subpoenas were issued to Ron Rogers, Doolittle's chief of staff; Dan Blankenburg, deputy chief of staff; Alisha Perkins, scheduler; Evan Goitein, legislative director; Martha Franco, senior executive assistant; and Gordon Hinkle, field rep.

The subpoenas are the latest sign that the federal corruption probe of Doolittle is continuing to gather steam. Doolittle's home was searched by FBI agents earlier this year. The agents were looking for any evidence regarding Doolittle's ties to Abramoff. Julie Doolittle, the congressman's wife, did consulting work for Abramoff, and Doolittle himelf wrote letters to the Bureau of Indian Affairs on behalf of several of Abramoff's Indian gaming clients.

Doolittle has denied any wrongdoing, and he has accused the Justice Dept. of harassing him and his wife, but after his home was searched [on Friday, April 13th], House GOP leaders forced him to give up his seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Doolittle's office could not be reached for comment on the subpoenas at press time.

Update: The Associated Press is reporting that Dollittle has been subpoenaed for his legislative records going back 11 years (viatalkingpointsmemo.com). Doolittle will fight the subpoena, arguing that this investigation violates the balance of powers between the legislative and executive branch, according to his lawyer, David Barger.

Doolittle aides questioned about Abramoff connections

9.06.07

Aides testify before jury

Rep. John Doolittle's staff questioned over lobbyist connections.

By David Whitney - Bee Washington Bureau

Rep. John Doolittle's office has confirmed that two staff aides testified under subpoena Wednesday before a federal grand jury investigating the congressman's connections to lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Alisha Perkins, who has worked for six years as the congressman's scheduler, testified before the grand jury Wednesday morning, said the congressman's press aide, Gordon Hinkle.

Hinkle said Perkins was served a grand jury subpoena about the same time as was Ron Rogers, the congressman's chief of staff, and his deputy chief of staff, Dan Blankenburg.

Blankenburg also appeared before the grand jury Wednesday and later issued a statement.

"This morning I testified before the federal grand jury," he said. "Overall, it was a very uneventful experience. I was questioned primarily about the operations of our office. To me, the process represents a necessary and promising step toward the truth."

The scheduler is one of the most important administrative jobs in a congressional office. Perkins would have known who was trying to reach the congressman by telephone or in person.

Unlike Blankenburg, who started working for the congressman in 2005, and Rogers, who joined the office only in May, Perkins' work in the office dates back long enough that she would have been there when Abramoff and his associates, most notably Kevin Ring, were seeking to meet with the Roseville Republican. Ring, according to billing records from Abramoff's lobbying firm, frequently was in Doolittle's office meeting with him or his staff. Ring used to work for Doolittle and, after joining Abramoff's firm, was the lead in handling lobbying for several of Abramoff's clients, including the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and some Indian tribes.

Ring abruptly resigned from his lobbying job on April 13, the same day FBI agents searched the Doolittles' home in Oakton, Va., raising speculation that he was in negotiations with the Justice Department over his fate. His attorney has repeatedly declined to comment. Ring invoked his Fifth Amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination in 2005 rather than answer questions from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

In a statement Tuesday, Doolittle said he hopes that the testimony of his staff will bring quick closure to the investigation that has been going on for three years. He has denied any wrongdoing, but said prosecutors believe Abramoff paid his wife, Julie, for work she didn't do in an effort to reward him for help he provided to the lobbyist.

TPMmuckraker reports on Congressional investigations targeting four of casino syndicator's "friends"

in its "Today's Must Read" post, TPMmuckraker reports the following "friends" of Detroit casino syndicator Michael J. Malik (and the Ilitch Family) are under investigation for ethics violations and other wrongdoings:

1. Congressman Don Young (R-AK 1st)
TPMmuckracker: Young's Scandals from Abramoff to Zachares

See these related posts at TheVerifiableTruth.com:

• Why did a Detroit-based casino syndicate with interests in Barstow front travel costs for Alaska's Rep. Don Young?
• Is the Gulfstream G-IV private aircraft pictured on this postcard co-owned by the Ilitch Family?
• Daniel Aronoff and Mike Malik have similar relationships with Rep. Don Young
• Michigan Developer directed political funds to Rep Don Young and got $20 million earmarked for Florida road project
• There can be no question why Michael Malik found Rep. Don Young to be such an attractive political figure
• Tribe hoped language slipped into 2004 Transportation Bill would grant approvals for Port Huron casino
• UPDATED: Tribal leader admits lobbyists were trying to sneak casino plans through Congress without alerting opposition
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• PoliticalMoneyLine: Rep. Don Young pays Akin Gump $25,000 & gets $100,000 GOP refund
• Rep. Young (R-AK) flying around in Detroit Casino Developers' private jet
• Rep. Don Young's Top 10 donor list includes prominent Great Lakes area families bankrolling 'off-reservation' casino projects
• Casino Developer who fronted travel & entertainment costs for Rep. Don Young (R-AK) did the same for former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)
• Former congressional aide linked to Reps. John Doolittle and Don Young pleads guilty
• Ilitch & Troha families responsible for 70% of the money Rep Don Young (R-AK) took in on his best fundraising day of the entire 2006 campaign
• Casino developer indicted on charges he laundered political contributions via his family
• NewsMeat.com provides a snapshot look at Ilitch Family DC political contributions and bundling practices
• Do these people really believe Marian Ilitch is a "homemaker" or are they playing along with the game
• GOP Congresswoman received at least $74,000 in bundled funds from Ilitch Family sources after introducing bill for syndicator-backed Indian casino
• Six bills in Congress, over six years & political gifts in the six figures: That's what Ilitch Family has invested in Port Huron Casino deal
• Malik/Ilitch Contributions to Rep. Don Young

2. Congressman John Doolittle (R-CA )
TPMmuckraker: The Doolittle Investgations

See these related posts at TheVerifiableTruth.com:

• Family Affair: Members of Congress pay family members with political funds
• Ethics Issues Confront Crop of Calif. Congressmen
• Doolittle committee disclosure falsely reported young rookie lobbyist (son of a Doolittle political operative) as “retired”
• Rep. John Doolittle's longtime political operative maneuvering behind the scenes of Barstow casino project
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• Former congressional aide linked to Reps. John Doolittle and Don Young pleads guilty

3. Congressman Rick Renzi (R-AZ )
TPMmuckraker: Rick Renzi Under Investigation

See these related posts at TheVerifiableTruth.com:

• Rep. Renzi's committee, donor may have falsified disclosure records
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep

4. Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-CA )
TPMmuckraker: Lewis is under investigation

See these related posts at TheVerifiableTruth.com:

• Family Affair: Members of Congress pay family members with political funds
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• CleanUpWashington.org Hall of Shame The Story on Hall of Shame Candidate Rep. Jerry Lewis
• Rep. Lewis, Daughter used same PAC Lawyer Barbara Bonfiglio
• Controversial D.C .Lobbyists/PAC Treasurers Barbara Bonfiglio and Mark Valente III have ties to Team Ilitch; Reps J. Lewis, C. Miller, R. Pombo
• Ethics Issues Confront Crop of Calif. Congressmen
• Concerns raised about Malik & Bay Mills Tribe's Plastics Business long before $900k federal grant awarded
• Malik contributions to Jerry Lewis

TPMmuckracker keeps a running tally of investigations and prosecutions of both Democrats and Republicans on their Grand Ole Docket.

Or click on any of the "labels" (categories) below for a compendium of posts at TheVerifiableTruth.com (TVT) for that category.

Washington Post blogger Paul Kane reviews the dismantling of the GOP leadership the past two years

from a post 08.17.07 by Paul Kane at the washingtonpost.com's blog "Capitol Briefing:"

About This Blog | Meet Paul Kane

The House GOP Leaders' Precipitous Fall

The dissolution of a once proud House Republican leadership team is near complete.

Dennis Hastert (Ill.), the affable wrestling-coach-turned-House-speaker, and Deborah Pryce (Ohio), the former head of the GOP Conference, both announced this week that they do not plan to stand for reelection next year, ending political careers that total more than 36 years combined.

Taken in isolation, these announcements aren't earth shattering. Hastert's retirement was long expected. And Pryce's announcement, made yesterday in Columbus, is somewhat of a surprise given how aggressively she had been assembling a campaign operation. Her departure reflects the fact that her central Ohio district had become one of the most competitive in the nation.

Taking the long view, these announcements are the latest in a series of shattering blows to a House Republican leadership team that, prior to 2006, ran the chamber with an iron fist and a view that they would never lose their majority. Of the top six GOP leaders from the last Congress, only Rep. Roy Blunt (Mo.) remains in a leadership position ... (Complete Post)

* John T. Doolittle (Calif.): A DeLay acolyte, Doolittle's future as GOP conference secretary was already murky once the majority leader gave up his leadership post. Doolittle battled his own Abramoff allegations throughout 2006, barely defeating the underfunded Democrat Charlie Brown with less than 50% of the vote. Despite the near loss and Abramoff questions, Doolittle announced a bid for another leadership post after the '06 midterms -- a campaign he gave up in less than a day. Now a back bencher, Doolittle's home was raided by the FBI in April [Friday the 13th] as part of the Abramoff investigation. California Republicans are openly talking about ousting him in a 2008 primary.

Doolittle faces primary fight

7.31.07

As Eric Egland declares he is in the GOP race, incumbent's aide says competitors welcome

By David Whitney - Bee Washington Bureau

The chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee discussed the challenges clouding Rep. John Doolittle's political future Monday as yet another one materialized -- the announcement by Roseville Republican Eric Egland that he will run in the 2008 primary for the beleaguered congressman's seat.

Egland is the first to flatly declare for the Republican primary. Auburn City Councilman Mike Holmes also is exploring a primary run for Doolittle's seat, and he said Monday he is moving closer to entering the race.

Doolittle's campaign consultant, Richard Temple, said the congressman is not worried, and welcomed the competition.

"In this case, the more candidates the better," said Temple. He said that because the congressman has a strong base of support, multiple opponents will only divide the disenchanted.

"Neither of them can beat him," Temple said.

Doolittle, under federal investigation as part of the ongoing political corruption scandal involving imprisoned Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, has said he is running for a 10th term next year.

But in a telephone news conference Monday, NRCC Chairman Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., indicated that the political ground has a way of shifting.

"There's a factor outside of normal politics that needs to be resolved," Cole said. "We're keeping a close eye on the situation. We hope it resolves itself. We hope it turns out OK for John."

Cole said he thinks Doolittle will decide later this year what he is going to do.

"But it sure would be helpful to him and to us if a 3-year-old investigation was brought to a conclusion one way or the other," he said. "I am concerned as much with John's situation as a friend and colleague as I am with that seat as a political prognosticator."

The NRCC is the political arm of the Republican caucus that lines up candidates for House races, gives them advice on how to run campaigns and raises money to help them win office.

Last November, Doolittle won by a slim three-percentage-point margin over Democrat Charlie Brown in a heavily Republican district Doolittle previously had dominated. Brown is expected to run again for the Democratic nomination and in the last three months raised nearly $200,000 for the race, almost twice as much as the Doolittle campaign.

Doolittle's fundraising has fallen since Friday, April 13 when the FBI, armed with a warrant, searched his Oakton, Va., home. His wife, Julie, uses the residence as the office for her bookkeeping and fundraising business, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions.

Doolittle said after the raid that federal prosecutors think that Abramoff paid Julie Doolittle's company for work it never performed as a way to funnel money to the congressman for help he gave the lobbyist's clients. Doolittle has insisted that neither he nor his wife has done anything wrong.

Egland, 37, a security consultant and intelligence officer with the Air Force Reserve, last year campaigned with Doolittle against Brown because of the Roseville Democrat's position on the Iraq war, which Egland supports unwaveringly.

Egland said Monday he believes Doolittle cannot win if there is another matchup between the congressman and Brown.

"If John Doolittle is the nominee, we will surrender our conservative voice in Washington, D.C., for a generation," Egland said in an interview.

In a prepared statement, he said that "change is needed in Washington and the district."
"I have seen firsthand how failures in congressional ethics and leadership have corrupted our government and made our troops, our economy and our nation more vulnerable," he said.

Egland has no political experience. He plans to file papers with the Federal Election Commission this week that will entitle him to begin fundraising.

The Doolittle campaign issued a statement from Republican officials from three counties and state Sen. Sam Aanestad pledging their support for the congressman.

Holmes, who lost to Doolittle in the 2006 Republican primary, 67 percent to 33 percent, said Egland is a political novice whose only issue is support of the Iraq war.

"I've met Eric Egland on several occasions," Holmes said. "I have listened to his current campaign to assist our fighting forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think Eric is more of a one-issue candidate and needs to develop a broader background in the issues of real concern to the voters of the 4th Congressional District."

The NRCC does not make endorsements in Republican primaries, and so Cole would not comment on Egland or Holmes.

But Cole said he was confident the seat would be in Republican hands after next year's elections.

"It's probably the most Republican seat in California, so we will wait and see how the situation with John resolves itself," he said. "I think he will make his decision accordingly, and so will the people there."

Governor of Mariana Islands describes his relationship with Abramoff, Doolittle

7.18.07

Governor of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands says he is cooperating in lobbying probe


By David Whitney, Bee Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Benigno Fitial, governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, said Thursday that he still regards jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Rep. John Doolittle as "good friends."

But the hearing at which Fitial had just testified revealed just how much some friendships can cost. Abramoff's in jail for political corruption, in part because of his dealings while representing the commonwealth.

Doolittle, R-Roseville, is under investigation because of his relationship with Abramoff. Fitial said he is "cooperating" with prosecutors but would say no more on the advice of his Los Angeles attorney, Thomas Pollack....(more)

Rep. Don Young's political defense legal bills highest in House

7.17.07

By Paul Kane

washingtonpost.com Staff

Justice Department probes of congressional corruption continued to provide big business for Washington's white-collar criminal defense attorneys, who billed at least $1 million in the second quarter to current and former House members involved in federal investigations.

With at least 11 such politicians -- including several forced from office last fall -- facing probes including the Jack Abramoff bribery conspiracy and the House page instant-messaging scandal, top-flight legal talent was in high demand.

The largest payout for current members came from Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), whose campaign shelled out more than $262,000 to a pair of top Washington firms: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which took more than $242,000, and Tobin, O'Connor, Ewing & Richard.

Unlike some of the others on the list, Young has not been the target of a subpoena. But Mark Zachares, a former staffer on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee while Young chaired it, pleaded guilty this spring to trying to help Abramoff's clients in exchange for the promise of a future job at his firm.

In addition, Young's current district director in Alaska recently lobbied for an energy conglomerate whose chief executive pleaded guilty in May to bribing several state lawmakers. Young and Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who has hired his own team of lawyers to deal with that probe, were the top recipients of donations from the executive and that company.

After spending $25,000 on Akin Gump in the first quarter, Young's campaign told reporters the funds were spent out of "caution." Yesterday, his congressional office deferred comment to Young's campaign staff, which declined to answer questions about his legal aid.

Former representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.), who resigned last fall after the FBI began investigating a series of inappropriate instant messages with teenage boys who were formerly House pages, spent more than $277,000 from April through June from his campaign funds, according to reports filed this weekend with the Federal Election Commission.

The FEC and congressional ethics committees have routinely allowed members to tap their campaign war chests to pay legal bills if they are under investigation for actions taken in the course of being a member of Congress.

"Lawyers rejoice," said Norman J. Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Ornstein noted that the average cost for one of the lawyers who handle ethics investigations has grown to $600 an hour. "This is serious stuff. . . . Obviously, it's also a reflection of the fact that we've a lot of folks under investigation," Ornstein added.

Rep. J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), the former speaker who underwent questioning from the ethics committee during its review last fall of the Foley matter, spent nearly $60,000 on legal bills in April and May, slightly less than the $70,000 he paid to his attorneys in the first quarter. Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) , his successor, spent $52,939 on legal bills related to his civil lawsuit against Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) over a leaked copy of a conference call Boehner participated in more than 10 years ago.

Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), who has faced scrutiny over earmarks he provided to campaign contributors, spent $31,000 on his defense. Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), whose family business was raided by the FBI last April, spent $25,000. Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-W.Va.), whose investments and campaign contributions have been under investigation, spent $22,671. And Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.), who was closely linked to Abramoff, spent $50,584.

Defeat at the ballot box does not mean the bills go away.

Former congressman Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), whose daughter's offices were raided by the FBI just before he lost his reelection bid, paid $25,000 to his lawyers this spring as investigators continued to examine official actions taken on behalf of his daughter's lobbying clients. Weldon also paid $5,000 to a firm for "investigative services."

Former congressman J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), who has faced scrutiny over his relationship with Abramoff, paid more than $102,000 to a legal team, according to his FEC report, and still owes $106,000.

Doolittle Earmarked $300,000 For Client Of Former Aide

as posted 6.29.07 at thinkprogress.com

On Wednesday, Pete Evich, the former legislative director for scandal-plagued Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA), said “he was recently contacted by federal investigators in their probe of Doolittle’s ties to jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.”

Evich is currently a lobbyist representing Sierra College. CQ reports today that perhaps not coincidentally, Doolittle requested a $300,000 earmark for Sierra College in the 2008 Financial Services appropriations bill.

Rep. John T. Doolittle, who’s been caught up in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, has requested a substantial earmark for a college represented by one of his former aides, who, coincidentally, has just been contacted by the FBI.

Pete Evich, a lobbyist and Doolittle’s legislative director until 2002, has been representing Sierra College, which could end up receiving $300,000 if the congressman’s request is approved.

Doolittle, R-Calif., asked for the money to be included in the 2008 Financial Services appropriations bill (HR 2829). It’s intended for a “mechatronics workforce training initiative,” according to the House Appropriations Committee.

Doolittle repeatedly accepted large sums of money and expensive gifts from Abramoff and his clients. In return, he routed $400,000 to the lobbyist’s client and championed Abramoff’s interests to federal officials.

Evich is the second Doolittle aide to acknowledge their contacts with the feds, suggesting “prosecutors are widening their investigation in the wake of an FBI raid on Doolittle’s home in April that led him to give up his seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.”

TPMmuckaker also points out that Doolittle is now claiming that “he has no problem with his former aides talking to prosecutors because he thinks it might hasten his dismissal as a focus of the Abramoff probe.” “I’ve always believed that the truth vindicates us,” he said. “I am glad they are going to delve more into it.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/06/29/doolittle-earmark-evich/

You may also want to review these additional posts or click on the "labels" below for related posts:

• More news on former Doolittle aides
• Yet another former Doolittle aide intends to talk with Justice Department officials
• Former Doolittle chief of staff cooperating in Abramoff probe
• Former Interior official got twice the sentence following guilty plea
• Ilitch Spokesman confirmed Wheat, Brown & Rossetti were on board for lobbying and consultation
• Doolittle Earmarked $300,000 For Client Of Former Aide
• Doolittle committee disclosure falsely reported young rookie lobbyist (son of a Doolittle political operative) as "retired”
• Rep. John Doolittle's longtime political operative maneuvering behind the scenes of Barstow casino project
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• Former congressional aide linked to Reps. John Doolittle and Don Young pleads guilty

TPMmuckraker reveals Doolittle's refusal to plead guilty prompted Friday-the-13th FBI raid

as posted 6.29.07 at TPMmuckracker.com :

The thing is, prosecutors don't seem to need much encouragement (here are the reasons why). Doolittle has been in investigators' sights dating back to the very beginning of the Jack Abramoff investigation -- back in 2004, investigators subpoenaed records for Doolittle's wife's consulting firm due to her work for Abramoff.

Finally, in April of this year, prosecutors offered Doolittle an opportunity to plead guilty. After he refused, FBI agents raided his Virginia home (for some reason, Doolittle wasn't happy about that).

So it's apparent the Justice Department has taken Doolittle up on his offer to "come investigate me," and they've obviously much more than just "started." But I'm sure they appreciate the support.

More news on former Doolittle aides

6.28.07

Doolittle welcomes Justice Department contact with former aides over ties to lobbyist

By David Whitney

Bee Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Rep. John Doolittle on Thursday said he is gratified that former aides are being sought out by the Justice Department in its investigation of the congressman's ties to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The embattled Roseville Republican's comments came as a former aide, Jason Larrabee, dropped his candidacy for a state Assembly seat Thursday.

Larrabee, who had served two years as Doolittle's legislative director, could not be reached for comment. The Justice Department has been seeking out Doolittle's top aides, including those who have held the legislative director position at least as far back as 2000.

Larrabee also had worked for former Rep. Doug Ose, R-Sacramento. Ose said Thursday that Larrabee had told him that he was abandoning the race because he and his wife Jill, an aide in Washington, D.C., for Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., wanted to start a family.

"I do not believe it was related to that," Ose said when asked if there was any connection between Larrabee's decision and the ongoing Doolittle investigation. "But people are going to believe what they want."

The Justice Department is believed to be trying to talk to as many as a half-dozen former Doolittle aides. Former legislative director Peter Evich has agreed to meet with department officials, and former chief of staff David Lopez has turned down the request, on the advice of his lawyer... (Complete Story)

You may also want to review these additional posts or click on the "labels" below for related posts:

• Former congressional aide linked to Reps. John Doolittle and Don Young pleads guilty
• Yet another former Doolittle aide intends to talk with Justice Department officials
• Former Doolittle chief of staff cooperating in Abramoff probe
• Former Interior official got twice the sentence following guilty plea
• Former DOI Official Rossetti also was lobbyist for Detroit casino syndicators lead by Marian Ilitch
• Doolittle committee disclosure falsely reported young rookie lobbyist (son of a Doolittle political operative) as "retired”
• Rep. John Doolittle's longtime political operative maneuvering behind the scenes of Barstow casino project
• Washington Post: Eight Members of Congress officially under investigation
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• Former congressional aide linked to Reps. John Doolittle and Don Young pleads guilty

Yet another former Doolittle aide intends to talk with Justice Department officials

6.27.07


Feds Expand Lobby Probe to Former Aide

By ERICA WERNER
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- California GOP Rep. John Doolittle's former legislative director said Wednesday he was recently contacted by federal investigators in their probe of Doolittle's ties to jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Pete Evich, Doolittle's legislative director from 1998 to 2002 and now a lobbyist, told The Associated Press that he plans to talk to the Justice Department.

The news comes two days after an attorney for another ex-Doolittle aide, former chief of staff David Lopez, said he'd given documents to federal prosecutors under subpoena.

Evich's disclosure suggests prosecutors are widening their investigation in the wake of an FBI raid on Doolittle's home in April that led him to give up his seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

"Representatives of the Department of Justice recently contacted me regarding their investigation of Congressman Doolittle," Evich said in a statement. "I have been told that I am not a focus of the investigation and I plan to voluntarily speak with them in the near future."

You may also want to review these additional posts or click on the "labels" below for related posts:

• More news on former Doolittle aides
• Former Doolittle chief of staff cooperating in Abramoff probe
• Former Interior official got twice the sentence following guilty plea
• Ilitch Spokesman confirmed Wheat, Brown & Rossetti were on board for lobbying and consultation
• Former DOI Official Rossetti also was lobbyist for Detroit casino syndicators lead by Marian Ilitch
• Questions surfacing again about former DOI official turned lobbyist Michael Rossetti

Former Doolittle chief of staff cooperating in Abramoff probe

6.25.07

By ERICA WERNER
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Rep. John Doolittle's former chief of staff and campaign adviser is cooperating with federal prosecutors investigating Doolittle and his wife in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, the aide's attorney told The Associated Press on Monday.

The aide, David Lopez, who was Doolittle's longtime chief of staff until 2005 and continued to work on his campaigns after that, has turned over campaign finance records to the Justice Department under subpoena, said his attorney Bill Portanova.

A different former Doolittle staffer, Kevin Ring, who went on to work as a lobbyist with Abramoff, was already known to be under investigation in the wide-ranging probe. Portanova's comments marked the first public confirmation that prosecutors have been interviewing other former Doolittle aides.

"Our client has been contacted like many other former staffers," said Portanova. "We have provided documents pursuant to government request in the form of a subpoena which we gladly complied with."

Doolittle, a Northern California conservative, relinquished his post on the powerful House Appropriations Committee in April after the FBI raided his home in the wide-ranging probe.

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_Doolittle_Abramoff_294318C.shtml

You may also want to click on a "label" below or read these related posts:

• Family Affair: Members of Congress pay family members with political funds
• Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) steals one from Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) playbook
• Doolittle, Young, Pombo and others tied to yet another Detroit casino syndicator
• Doolittle committee disclosure falsely reported young rookie lobbyist (son of a Doolittle political operative) as "retired”
• Rep. John Doolittle's longtime political operative maneuvering behind the scenes of Barstow casino project
• Washington Post: Eight Members of Congress officially under investigation
• You can tell a lot about a Capitol Hill lobbyist by the company they keep
• Former congressional aide linked to Reps. John Doolittle and Don Young pleads guilty
• More news on former Doolittle aides
• Yet another former Doolittle aide intends to talk with Justice Department officials
• Former Doolittle chief of staff cooperating in Abramoff probe
• Doolittle Earmarked $300,000 For Client Of Former Aide

Family Affair: Members of Congress pay family members with political funds

6.17.07

Lawmakers used campaign funds to pay relatives

By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY

...Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) found nearly $3.5 million in campaign payments to relatives during the past three election cycles, from 2001 to 2006. Campaigns paid about $1.6 million to firms owned by or employing the lawmakers or their relatives, the group found...

Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who heads the watchdog group, says paying relatives with campaign money gives the impression that Congress members use their "position as a profit center for the family."

"A member of Congress would not be allowed to put that family member on their office payroll," Sloan says. "The logic should be the same. If they can't put them on the official payroll, why should they put them on the campaign payroll?"

Sloan says her group started the study last year amid criticism of some members of Congress for their family ties to campaign fundraising. For example, the campaign and political action committee for Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., paid a 15% commission to his wife's fundraising business, which also did work for lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was sentenced to prison last year for fraud. Doolittle stepped down from his committees in April after FBI agents raided his wife's offices in their suburban Washington home. Doolittle is not in the CREW study because he was not a committee or subcommittee leader... (Full Story)

RELATED RECIPIENTS: Who got paid?

CREW's Full Report: Family Affair

FAMILY AFFAIR: Summary and Conclusions

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-06-17-campaign-funds_N.htm#Close

---

Detroit Casino Syndicators' Connection
On the CREW lists published in USA Today:

• Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Ca 25th) whose district includes Barstow, CA and Barstow Mayor Lawrence Dale is his political appointee to the regional GOP committee (his wife has been paid $263,168 funneled through his campaign); and


• Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mi 1st) whose district includes the Bay Mills Indian Community and who has sponsored numerous bills to push an off-reservation casino for the Bay Mills Indians (his wife and son have been paid $132,036 from campaign funds).

Michael J. Malik, Sr. and Mrs. Marian Ilitch have bankrolled plans to develop and manage two Indian casinos in Barstow and various casino plans for the Bay Mills Indians the last decade. They've established a track record of contributions totaling $9,000 to Rep. Stupak; but oddly enough, there are no contributions recorded to Barstow area Rep. McKeon.

The pair of Detroit casino syndicators and their family members have contributed generously to other California lawmakers and their causes including:

• Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Ca 11th)
  $65,000 to $100,000


• Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Ca 41st)
  $9,500


• other California lawmakers
  $65,000

These disclosures analyzed in the CREW report are made available because campaign committees must report their explenditures to the Federal Elections Commission. However if individuals or organziations lobbying Members of Congress hire or retain the services of a member of that Congressional Representative's family directly and for non-lobbbying and non-political campaign purposes; there is little, if any, disclosure required.

A corporation or individual could retain a Member's son to provide strategic counsel or empty waste baskets and if the son didn't lobby his father, but representatives of the Corporation or the individual employing the son did, payments to the son would not necessarily ever be disclosed. Certainly there's nothing stopping the coporate lobbyists from mentioning to the Member what a "fine job" his/her son is doing on their behalf as they leave the Member of Congress' office.

Stumble It!

Ethics Issues Confront Crop of Calif. Congressmen

6.09.07

UNDER SCRUTINY

Incumbent California GOP lawmakers facing ethics questions:

Rep. John Doolittle. The nine-term conservative from far Northern California is under investigation in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal that's already resulted in 12 convictions of congressional aides, Bush administration officials and others, including a guilty plea from one former Republican member of Congress, Bob Ney of Ohio.

Doolittle, whose ties to Abramoff include accepting his campaign money and helping his clients, relinquished his seat on the Appropriations Committee in April after FBI agents raided his home in Virginia with a search warrant for a fundraising and event-planning business run there by his wife, Julie, that had done work for Abramoff and drawn commissions from Doolittle's campaigns.

Doolittle denies wrongdoing.

Rep. Jerry Lewis. In his 15th term representing inland Southern California, Lewis was chairman of the Appropriations Committee last year when federal prosecutors in Los Angeles began investigating his ties to a lobbyist who represented a number of towns and businesses in Lewis' district. Clients of lobbyist Bill Lowery received valuable federal spending approved by Lewis' committee, and the firm and its clients have been generous donors to Lewis and his campaign committees.

Lewis remains top Republican on the Appropriations Committee and denies wrongdoing.

Rep. Gary Miller. A real estate developer serving his fifth term representing inland Southern California, Miller drew scrutiny after the Los Angeles Times published stories highlighting a tax deferral strategy he used in connection with profitable real estate sales to two Southern California towns outside his district. Officials in both towns say they've been interviewed by FBI agents, but Miller says he's done nothing wrong.

Rep. Ken Calvert. A year ago the FBI obtained copies of Calvert's annual financial disclosure forms after the Los Angeles Times reported on federal funding Calvert pushed for a planned freeway interchange 16 miles from property he sold for a large profit. Calvert denied any connection or any profit to himself and said he'd done nothing wrong; there's no public evidence that he's under active investigation. Still, conservative bloggers protested after House GOP leaders tapped Calvert to replace Doolittle on the Appropriations Committee.

California GOP lawmakers who left Congress last session under an ethics cloud:
Randy "Duke" Cunningham. The former GOP House member from the San Diego area pleaded guilty in November 2005 to taking $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors and was sentenced to more than eight years in prison.

Richard Pombo. Pombo was chairman of the House Resources Committee when he lost re-election last November amid questions about his environmental policies and his ties to Abramoff. There was never public evidence that Pombo was under federal investigation. He lost to Democrat Jerry McNerney, a political neophyte, in a GOP-leaning Central California district.

Source: AP research

AP writer Erica Werner, "Ethics Issues Confront Calif. Politicians" and "California produces big crop of ethically challenged congressmen"

JohnsonClarke Associates - political consultants for both Doolittle & Pombo.