Rep. Denies Money Was Offered for Votes (No Bribes or Threats)

AP-Politics ^ | 12-5-03 | AP-Politics

[Lance Romance]

Rep. Denies Money Was Offered for Votes

1 hour, 4 minutes ago

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Nick Smith has backtracked from comments that Republican House members used bribes to try to get votes for a Medicare bill.

Smith said some Republican House members threatened to oppose his son's election campaign unless the Republican from Michigan voted for the bill — but did not offer his son any money.

The Justice Department said Thursday it would review complaints from political watchdog groups that the leaders tried to bribe Smith, who voted against the bill. Brad Smith is running for the House seat his father is vacating next year.

"I want to make it clear that no member of Congress made an offer of financial assistance for my son's campaign in exchange for my vote," Smith said in a statement Thursday. "Some members said they would work against Brad if I voted no."

Earlier, Nick Smith had said his own party's leaders offered bribes. "Bribes and special deals were offered to convince members to vote yes," Smith wrote in a Nov. 23 newspaper column.

And in a press release last week he said that his only regret about his vote was "it might have hurt my son."

"I got significant promises for help for his campaign and threats they'd work against him if I voted no," he said.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office has denied threats were made.

Mark Glaze of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center said House members could have violated a federal law against bribing public officials, if money was offered.

The law allows people to verbally persuade lawmakers, Glaze said, but doesn't allow them to offer something of value to change a vote. His group filed a complaint Wednesday, as did a separate group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, which has Democratic ties.

Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo said the complaints were received and will be reviewed, which is normal procedure.

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On the Net:

Campaign Legal Center:

Rep. Nick Smith: http://www.house.gov/nicksmith/

[Lance Romance]

Ahhh. Another non-story. Right next to the fake Turkey and British Airways Story.

[OneTimeLurker]

Does anybody really doubt this happened? His statement was right after the incident occurred. Sorry if this offends everybody's virgin eyes, but I bet this stuff happens all the time. This time, somebody spoke up.

[OneTimeLurker]

I should add that it was probably far more blatant this time because of the intense time pressure combined with the tremendous special interest money involved.

[mewzilla]

And I doubt Pubbies were the only ones doing it. A pox on both their houses.