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)
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