FBI searches Congressman Doolittle's Virginia home
April 19, 2007
tahoedailytribune.com
The FBI searched the Virginia home of Congressman John Doolittle, focusing on his wife's business which could spell trouble for the Republican who has been trying to repair his political image.
News of the Friday search emerged Wednesday. Federal authorities concentrated on records of Doolittle's wife's company, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions Inc., said attorney David Barger. Doolittle's wife, Julie Doolittle, was on retainer for convicted GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff from 2002-2004 for event-planning work.
"The congressman fully supports his wife in this matter and we're optimistic that truth will win out in the end," Barger said, according to the Associated Press. He refused further comment.
Barger, listed as the congressman's attorney, did not return a phone call left by the Tahoe Daily Tribune. Bill Stauffer, Julie Doolittle's attorney, also could not be reached for comment.
An FBI spokeswoman in the Washington, D.C., area declined to give further information on the search.
The 56-year-old Doolittle, R-Roseville, was in South Lake Tahoe last week for a town hall meeting at Lake Tahoe Airport. He issued a statement on the search Wednesday.
"My wife has been cooperating with the FBI and the Justice Department for almost three years and that cooperation is going to continue in the future," he said. "I support my wife 100 percent and fully expect that the truth will prevail."
Sierra Dominion's records also were subpoenaed in 2004 by the grand jury looking into the Abramoff case. Abramoff pleaded guilty in January 2006 to conspiracy, mail fraud and other charges, admitting to bilking his Indian tribe clients out of tens of millions of dollars with promises to influence decisions coming out of Congress and the Interior Department.
The latest news is another blow to Doolittle, who kept busy during Congress' April recess by conducting town hall meetings within the 4th district. Narrowly beating Democratic challenger Charlie Brown in November, a humbled Doolittle sought to repair a battered image by opening up satellite offices and holding weekly telephone press conferences with reporters.
Brian Jensen, district director to Doolittle in California, said the Friday press conference remains scheduled but expected a few more reporters to join than the usual handful.
Jensen declined further comment.
The Brown camp was quick to comment on the news.
"This is a sad day for the people of the 4th District, for our Congress and our country," Brown said in a statement. "It is my sincere hope that the ongoing investigation will bring the era of corruption and scandal ridden politics to a close, so that we can move forward on addressing the real priorities of the American people: like ending the war in Iraq, winning the war against terrorism, securing our borders, keeping faith with our veterans, expanding economic opportunity and achieving energy independence."
Todd Stenhouse, spokesman for Brown, declined further comment, saying, "It's early."
Doolittle called Abramoff a friend and has numerous ties to the lobbyist beyond his wife's work. They include accepting campaign cash from Abramoff, using his sports box without initially reporting it as required by law and interceding with the Interior Department on behalf of Abramoff's Indian tribe clients.
The search occurred the same day that Kevin Ring, a former Doolittle aide who went on to work for Abramoff, abruptly resigned his law firm job without explanation.
Abramoff is cooperating with the government and one former House member, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, already is serving a jail term on a guilty plea in the case.
Julie Doolittle once worked for her husband's 2006 re-election campaign on fundraising efforts and was paid a 15 percent commission on each sum she raised, rather than the flat fee recommended by some industry professionals.
In a visit to the Tribune in February, Doolittle downplayed his wife's work on his campaign and said she was removed from duties for the sake of his constituents.
"I never felt it was improper in any way, and I still feel that way, but I know there is a certain segment of my constituents that disagree with me so we just have that disagreement," Doolittle said.
In the February interview, Doolittle blamed overzealous media for the attention paid between him and Abramoff. He mentioned he was never interviewed by the FBI or Department of Justice. It is not known if he was interviewed by authorities during the search.
"I'm not about to be indicted," he said at the time. "In fact, I will predict I will not be indicted because I have not done anything to be indicted for."
-- By William Ferchland, wferchland@tahoedailytribune.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report |
