5.17.07Campaign funds going to legal fees
By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
Two dozen current and former members of Congress caught up in criminal investigations or ethics inquiries spent more than $5 million in campaign funds on legal fees during the last 27 months covered by campaign-finance records.
By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
Two dozen current and former members of Congress caught up in criminal investigations or ethics inquiries spent more than $5 million in campaign funds on legal fees during the last 27 months covered by campaign-finance records.
The spending reflects a spate of scandals that were a factor in the Democratic takeover of Congress last year and, for some lawmakers, remain a problem. Eight current members have been publicly identified as being under investigation.
While campaign donations may not be spent for personal use, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has ruled that fighting to stay out of jail is a legitimate political activity as long as the allegations of wrongdoing relate to conduct in office.
The biggest spender still in Congress is Rep. Jerry Lewis of California, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, records show. His campaign paid $905,800 to law firms in the last two-year campaign cycle and the first three months of this year, records show. The Justice Department has been investigating his relationships with lobbyists and companies.
Lewis' office did not respond to phone messages.
Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., whose house recently was searched by the FBI, spent $149,200 during that 27-month period. Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., whose wife's insurance business also was searched by federal agents recently, paid $101,800.
Renzi, under scrutiny for a land deal, said he has been the victim of "leaked stories, conjecture and false attacks." Doolittle, whose wife consulted for convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, proclaimed his innocence and criticized the search.
"Since you've started to see the Justice Department become much more active, the members have sought serious legal help," said Kent Cooper, of PoliticalMoneyLine, a non-partisan group that tracks money in politics.
Among Democrats, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who declined to comment, spent $91,900 from December through March. Federal investigators have been looking into a real estate deal.
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., under investigation over bribery allegations, has a separate legal defense fund governed by House rules that has raised $136,000, according to the latest filing.
Even those who have left Congress are allowed to use their campaign funds to pay legal bills, according to the FEC.
Former congressman Mark Foley, R-Fla, who left in September after it emerged that he had been making sexual advances to congressional pages, paid his lawyers $253,768 from his campaign fund since December, FEC records show.
Campaigns don't have to disclose the specific purpose of legal payments, so it's not always possible to distinguish standard legal bills from criminal defense fees. But routine election compliance typically costs no more than $12,000 a year, said attorney Karl Sandstrom, a former FEC vice chairman who advises campaigns on compliance issues.
While campaign donations may not be spent for personal use, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) has ruled that fighting to stay out of jail is a legitimate political activity as long as the allegations of wrongdoing relate to conduct in office.
The biggest spender still in Congress is Rep. Jerry Lewis of California, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, records show. His campaign paid $905,800 to law firms in the last two-year campaign cycle and the first three months of this year, records show. The Justice Department has been investigating his relationships with lobbyists and companies.
Lewis' office did not respond to phone messages.
Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., whose house recently was searched by the FBI, spent $149,200 during that 27-month period. Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., whose wife's insurance business also was searched by federal agents recently, paid $101,800.
Renzi, under scrutiny for a land deal, said he has been the victim of "leaked stories, conjecture and false attacks." Doolittle, whose wife consulted for convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, proclaimed his innocence and criticized the search.
"Since you've started to see the Justice Department become much more active, the members have sought serious legal help," said Kent Cooper, of PoliticalMoneyLine, a non-partisan group that tracks money in politics.
Among Democrats, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who declined to comment, spent $91,900 from December through March. Federal investigators have been looking into a real estate deal.
Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., under investigation over bribery allegations, has a separate legal defense fund governed by House rules that has raised $136,000, according to the latest filing.
Even those who have left Congress are allowed to use their campaign funds to pay legal bills, according to the FEC.
Former congressman Mark Foley, R-Fla, who left in September after it emerged that he had been making sexual advances to congressional pages, paid his lawyers $253,768 from his campaign fund since December, FEC records show.
Campaigns don't have to disclose the specific purpose of legal payments, so it's not always possible to distinguish standard legal bills from criminal defense fees. But routine election compliance typically costs no more than $12,000 a year, said attorney Karl Sandstrom, a former FEC vice chairman who advises campaigns on compliance issues.
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