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.
This could cost her the race!!..(sarc)
Anyone know exactly how "nonpartisan" this group is?
I am waiting to hear reasons on why "the feeding tude" shouldn't be removed from Katherine's campaign. Katherine Harris's campaign needs to "die with dignity".
This is going to hurt, no doubt. But, what the heck, Katherine can just do a Lady Godiva thingie on her horse and get her lead back. Oh, wait...
In the GOP primary, Katherine, despite 100% nane Id, garners a mere 38%. Alan Bense receives 21%. Bense has room to grow, Katherine does not.
Not very.
But if they can get her out of teh race, they'll be helping Republicans.
Here's why she won't win that Senate race: Pictures?
She looks better than she sounds - by a long shot.
Her odds of winning just plunged from zero to none.
Chellie Pingree
Chellie Pingree has been the president and CEO of Common Cause since March 2003. Prior to leading Common Cause, Pingree served for eight years in the Maine Senate, with the last four years as majority leader. She was also a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 2002.
In the Maine Legislature, Pingree was known for successful legislative battles regarding health care, economic development and the environment. She authored legislation that created a landmark program known as Maine Rx, which lowered the cost of prescription drug prices for seniors. She was the winner of several awards including Consumer Health Advocate of the Year by Families, USA.
In 1998, Pingree was an international election monitor for the White House in Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia.
Pingree hails from North Haven, Maine, an island of 350 where she ran a farm and wool knitting business that supplied knitting kits, pattern books and yarn to 1,200 stores nationwide. She was active in rural economic development issues, and helped to create an economic development corporation supporting small business creation and peer lending in Maine. She also served in local office, including the school board
Yep they are still scared,if they weren't they would just leave her alone.
So the only question for Nelson to ask now, will his victory margin over this DOA candidate be SERIES or will it be HUGH ? Katherine and her horse have both had their beebers stuned permanently.
Paging Karl Rove, it's time for the "Come to Jesus" meeting to be set up.
KH is a dud. Her band of true beleivers interpret everything as good news for her. For example, if she does poorly in a poll, it's because liberals of terrified of running against her and are releasing rigged polls to make her look bad.
While I agree that liberalism, in its extreme forms, is not so much a political philosophy but rather a mental disorder, I've seen some evidence on FR that conservatisim, in its extreme forms, is not a political philosophy but a mental disorder also.
IMHO, Katherine Harris is innocent of legal or ethical wrongdoing.
But she is guilty as sin of ineptitude. If ineptitude were a capitol crime, Katherine Harris would be its poster girl.
Pics?
I tend to think of it as an affliction solely of the particular supporters of individuals. The most hard-core KH disciples are a very unbalanced bunch. I expect the usual cheap shots from rancid RINO liberal turds, but these knuckle-draggers have accused me from everything from cheating on my wife (interesting, since I'm not married), being a purveyor of child pornography (I guess having a pic of an attractive 30-year old woman on your webpage is child porn), and another named "Floriduh Voter" who publicly propositioned me with his sick "Brokeback Mountain" penile fantasies in a KH thread after I demolished his flimsy arguments. You have, of course, been on the receiving end of their hate, too, so you know of what I speak.
Meant to ping you to my post #16 instead of JZ.
I've never seen the level of abuse you described, but I don't pay close attention to the grape Kool-Aid Katherine Harris cult. The worst I've endured is being called a coward. Needless to say, I won't even respond to any of his postings anymore.
In several months, I have not seen one shred of evidence that Katherine Harris is a viable candidate. Not one article, not one news release. Even her nominal supporters (like Jeb Bush) have been critical of her.
I agree.
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