Posted on 05/02/2006 12:27:09 PM PDT by Kuksool
The nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause filed a complaint with the Justice Department Monday alleging that Rep. Katherine Harris violated federal law by seeking a $10 million appropriation in exchange for an offer of fund-raising support from a defense contractor.
The complaint alleges that Harris, a Republican from Longboat Key who is running for the U.S. Senate, sought the appropriation for a counterintelligence facility in her congressional district after having dinner early last year with Mitchell Wade, an owner and chief executive of MZM Inc., a defense contractor who later pleaded guilty to bribing former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.
During that dinner, which reportedly cost $2,800 at Citronelle Restaurant in Washington, Wade offered to help raise money for Harris' political campaign, the complaint said.
"It appears that Representative Harris crossed the line from the usual back-scratching that goes on between lobbyists and members of Congress, to agreeing to a quid pro quo from Wade — a fund-raiser in exchange for his $10 million earmark," Common Cause President Chellie Pingree said in a news release. "We would like the Justice Department to investigate."
Harris issued a statement Wednesday calling the Common Cause allegation "false and outrageous. I maintain my involvement with MZM was nothing more than an effort to secure jobs and economic opportunities for the people of my district.
"I have never been contacted by authorities and will continue to direct my attention toward the economic, social and infrastructure needs of Florida's families, senior citizens and small businesses as a candidate for the United States Senate," Harris said.
House ethics rules limit a lawmaker's individual gifts to no more than $50. Harris has said the dinner tab was so high because Wade bought some expensive bottles of wine, which he took with him unopened. She has since contributed $100 to a Jacksonville charity to offset what she said was her share of the dinner's cost.
Michael Surrusco, ethics campaigns director for Common Cause, said the organization decided to file the complaint with the Justice Department in response to recent House votes that have virtually stripped the House Ethics Committee of its powers.
"In the absence of the House Ethics Committee, the Justice Department because the de facto enforcement body," he said.
A Justice representative said the agency would not comment on the complaint.
The complaint was the latest blow to rock Harris' Senate campaign, which has been plagued by low fund raising, staff turnover and previous reports that Wade had admitted making $32,000 in illegal contributions to Harris' 2004 congressional campaign.
Common Cause is as nonpartisan as the DNC.
See Michael Surrosco on another Republican: "Roy Blunt is not the same, but he's similar [to DeLay]," referring to the Left's favorite DeLay stereotype.
Katherine Harris is very beautiful, there's no denying that. But even if she did a nude foldout, it wouldn't make her a viable candidate.
She will beat Nelson no problem.
Same old worn out song.
Paging all bozos; thread on bashing Harris come join the party
Sad.
Call me crazy, but I tend to lay the blame for Schiavo's death on her husband.
I'll tell you what's sad: You showing up like clockwork in every damn thread about a candidate you profess to care precious little for, just to run your mouth about your perceived notions of her candidacy. Whatever little you could impart to the Harris threads stopped being interesting long ago.
Who the hell are you ? I don't recall having exchanged a single word with you, so I don't know what this out-of-left-field attack is. If you have a problem with legitimate political analysis, either present some facts to refute my points or ignore my posts, take your cheap flaming elsewhere, pal.
"nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause"
This is an oxymoron, funded and manned by morons.
Katherine Harris's campaign needs to "die with dignity".
It's far too late for that.
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