Republican Caught in Scandal

[Doug]

DOUG
No news here. A Republican scandal...

====No Investigation!?========
Report: FBI probing Weldon’s aid to daughter
William Bender, Of the DelcoTimes Staff
10/14/2006

A glossy Democratic mailer has been circulating the district all week about how U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon allegedly used his political influence to steer lucrative contracts to his daughter. Today, McClatchy Newspapers is expected to publish a report that could further diminish Weldon’s chances of holding on to his seat in what will likely be the closest 7th District election since 1984.

The newspaper chain was reporting online Friday that the FBI opened an investigation in recent months to determine if the 10-term Republican used his position to help his daughter Karen land nearly $1 million in lobbying and consulting contracts.

The report cites two anonymous sources "with specific knowledge of the existence of the investigation." They declined to be identified because it is a confidential criminal matter.

Weldon’s office reacted with outrage late Friday night, denying that an investigation is under way and claiming the report is an attempt to influence the Nov. 7 election.

"There is no investigation," said the congressman’s spokesman, John Tomaszewski. "There is no formal investigation and there is no inquiry. There’s nothing. This is nonsense, ludicrous."
Here.
===Yes, Investigation!======
Oct. 14, 2006, 11:22PM
Weldon faces probe on daughter's deals


By KIMBERLY HEFLING and LARA JAKES JORDAN Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The FBI is investigating whether Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., used his influence to secure lobbying and consulting contracts for his daughter, two people familiar with the inquiry said Saturday.

The inquiry focuses on lobbying contracts worth $1 million that Weldon's daughter, Karen Weldon, obtained from foreign clients and whether they were assisted by the congressman, they said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidentiality of the criminal investigation.

Weldon, a 10-term Republican from the Philadelphia suburbs, long has denied any wrongdoing, and his top aide said Saturday no one had notified him of an investigation.

"I think if there was an investigation, somebody would have contacted us," said Russ Caso, Weldon's chief of staff.

Caso said Weldon and his staff were "100 percent caught off guard" when they learned of the investigation, first reported late Friday by McClatchy Newspapers. This account cited two individuals with specific knowledge of the existence of the investigation; they declined to be identified because of the confidentiality of criminal investigations.

See here.

[Barbara Fitzpatrick]

Deny, lie, and then "confess with all humility" so they can be "forgiven" - and re-elected. Doug's right. No news here.