Posted on 06/04/2006 9:03:09 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Congressman Jerry Lewis is at the center of a federal investigation into a lobbying giant in the nation's capital, but he's not keeping a low profile.
"This is not a difficult time at all,'' Lewis said Saturday from his home in Redlands. "Since I haven't seen any of these subpoenas or had anybody contact me about them, I don't think I should comment. I have served this community for 40 years, and I expect to continue to do so.''
San Bernardino County, the city of Redlands, and Cal State San Bernardino are among local agencies and businesses that have confirmed being subpoenaed for records related to Lewis and lobbying firm Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White.
Lewis, who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said Saturday he is busy with an appropriations timetable he hopes to complete by July 4. But he's making time for public appearances.
Today, the Republican leader of the 41st congressional district will be in Los Angeles to receive a UCLA Alumnus of the Year award.
Last week, on the same day officials for San Bernardino County and Redlands confirmed they've been contacted by federal investigators, Lewis flexed his clout and staged a pyrotechnic spectacle at a dedication for a $12 million aviation firefighting training facility in east San Bernardino.
In a passionate and defiant speech, Lewis defended the practice of earmarking federal dollars for local projects such as the Jerry Lewis San Bernardino Regional Emergency Training Center.
Veteran firefighters who attended the Thursday dedication said Saturday they admired Lewis for standing up for himself.
"From the standpoint of building the training center, and from the standpoint of all the federal dollars he's secured for making the forest safer, it's clear that earmarking benefits this community,'' said Thom Wellman, San Bernardino County's valley division fire chief.
Wellman is a resident of Forest Falls, one of several fire-vulnerable communities in the nation's most urbanized mountain forest.
"I don't think Lewis believes he has anything to be ashamed of,'' Wellman said. "To be honest I was proud of him, because he believes he's doing the right thing.''
Gary Provansal, county fire chief of special operations including emergency medical services and urban search-and-rescue, said Lewis backed the training facility for 13 years and that's why his name's on it.
"I have never know the man to do any wrong,'' Provansal said. "He has the highest ethics, the highest morals. He is truly concerned for the people he represents. He brings resources here that are vital to public safety.''
In the midst of the ongoing federal investigation, some observers, including congressional watchdog groups, question whether Lewis and other lawmakers benefit from the earmarking process, by trading earmarks for illegal payments from lobbyists or contractors.
Lewis has said in recent weeks there is nothing inappropriate about his relationship with Copeland Lowery's founder, former San Diego congressman Bill Lowery.
The FBI has declined to confirm or deny it subpoenaed San Bernardino County for records relating to the awarding of a county contract to Copeland Lowery. But county officials, along with representatives of Redlands, and Cal State San Bernardino, have confirmed federal investigators requested records, files and e-mails pertaining to Copeland Lowery and Lewis.
Copeland Lowery's clients include those three entities as well as software mapping giant ESRI of Redlands, University of Redlands, Riverside County, the cities of San Bernardino and Loma Linda, and Brent R. Wilkes, a defense contractor who has been a focus of a separate investigation in San Diego.
Wilkes has been linked to the corruption scandal that sent former Rep. Randy "Duke'' Cunningham, R-Rancho Santa Fe, to prison. Cunningham was convicted of accepting $2.4 million in bribes.
Lewis has received at least $60,000 in campaign contributions from Wilkes and his companies over the years. They are among Lewis' largest contributors.
Wellman said he thinks Lewis has steered clear of anything illegal.
"Lewis has done everything he can to keep things balanced,'' Wellman said. "He defended earmarks but he agrees they should be scrutinized. There needs to be oversight so they cannot be taken advantage of.''
When Lewis heads to UCLA today, he will be recognized for being "instrumental in making policy to toughen clean-air standards, to create effective drug and crime policy, and to solidify natural disaster emergency relief funding,'' a statement from the Alumni Association reads. He graduated from UCLA in 1956.
Christine Cahill, project manager for the Alumni Association, said Lewis was chosen for the award by a 15-member committee more than three months ago, before news of an investigation broke.
She said recent headlines haven't put a cloud over today's planned festivities.
"Not at all,'' she said.
"Hey Ladies! Nice kind ladies! Why for are you investigating me?
FREUNLABEN!"
Given the kind of relationships described in the story, one must either be suspicious or naive.
I suspect that anyone that's been in congress for more than a single term is guilty of something. Some are just better than others at covering their tracks. The Congress has ceased to be an honorable institution.
"My whole life I've lived aboveboard," [Duke] Cunningham said. "I've never even smoked a marijuana cigarette. I don't cheat. If a contractor buys me lunch and we meet a second time, I buy the lunch. My whole life has been aboveboard and so this doesn't worry me." Later, he added, "The last thing I would do is get involved in something that, you know, is wrong. And I feel very confident that I haven't done anything wrong."
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