ShareThisBy DAVID WHITNEY
McClatchy Newspapers
Friday, May 04, 2007
Rep. John Doolittle, insisting that his political career is far from over, said he and his wife will form separate legal defense funds to fight the ramped-up federal corruption investigation arising out of the Jack Abramoff scandal.The separate funds, Doolittle said, will allow the congressman and his wife, Julie, whose consulting business has ensnared them in the investigation, to solicit contributions from people and businesses to pick up their escalating legal costs.
Doolittle, in his weekly press conference Thursday, said the Justice Department urged them to hire separate lawyers because it believes "there is a potential conflict of interest between my wife and me."
The funds, which have to be approved by the House Standards of Official Conduct Committee, allow corporate contributions, but require all money be spent on legal matters.
The Roseville Republican said prosecutors believe Julie Doolittle's business, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions, was used by Abramoff to funnel money to him in exchange for the congressman helping the convicted lobbyist's clients.
"Their theory seems to be that she is a conduit," he said, adding that he and his wife have clear consciences.
"We've certainly made every effort to be ethical and lawful in complying with the laws relative to Julie's work," he said. "We are utterly shocked that our government is suspecting us of committing a crime. ... I cannot believe that this is how our system of justice can work in this country."
But Doolittle suggested that the Abramoff investigation soon could spread even wider.
He said he has information from sources he would not name that federal agents have executed search warrants recently against two other congressional members _ a Republican and a Democrat _ in raids that have not become public yet. He said he thinks those raids also are related to the Abramoff probe.
The Justice Department refuses to comment on the investigation, not even acknowledging that the FBI raided the Doolittles' house last month.
House rules require members to immediately notify leaders when they have been served with a subpoena. But there are no such rules applying to search warrants, which are issued by a judge only after prosecutors affirm that they believe there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed.
The Doolittles' house in Oakton, Va., was searched under such an assertion April 13. Three computers belonging to Julie Doolittle's business were seized, along with files.
Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions was employed by an Abramoff charity, the Capital Athletic Fund, to do fundraising. It also has been paid a 15 percent commission for raising money for Doolittle's election committee and his political action committee. Critics have charged that arrangement is a backdoor way of delivering money to Doolittle.
Some political commentators have concluded that the imbroglio has undermined Doolittle's chances of being re-elected in 2008.
In November, when the Doolittle campaign was insisting there was doubt about whether the congressman was even under investigation, Doolittle came within 3 percentage points of losing to Democratic challenger Charlie Brown in a district with heavy Republican registration.
Brown is gearing up for a campaign against Doolittle again next year, and some have speculated that the only way the seat can be kept in Republican hands is if Doolittle steps down soon and the vacancy is filled by special election.
But Doolittle said he has no such plans, saying that "they would have to drag me out of here. There is no way I am stepping down."
According to the National Taxpayers Union, which monitors congressional retirement policy, Doolittle would qualify for an immediate annual retirement of about $30,000 a year if he stepped down now. House members now earn $165,200 a year.
(Contact David Whitney at dwhitney(at)mcclatchydc.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps-McClatchy Western Service.)
