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Common Cause seeks U.S. investigation of Rep. Harris
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 2, 2006
WASHINGTON - A congressional watchdog group asked the Justice Department on Monday to investigate whether U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris of Florida tried to obtain a $10-million appropriation for a defense contractor in return for his financial support.
Common Cause filed the complaint, citing information provided by contractor Mitchell Wade as part of a plea agreement in the bribery case of convicted former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.
Justice Department spokesman Bryan Sierra would not comment on the request.
Wade, former president of MZM Inc., admitted making $32,000 in illegal contributions to Republican Harris' 2004 campaign for the House. Harris has said she did not knowingly do anything illegal and would donate the money to charity.
Wade said he and Harris had dinner in Washington in early 2005 and discussed the possibilities of Wade's company hosting a fundraiser for the lawmaker and of Harris' obtaining funding for a Navy counterintelligence program in her district. The Common Cause complaint said Harris then wrote the chairman and ranking member of a House subcommittee requesting funding for the program.
Federal law prohibits public officials from corruptly seeking or receiving anything of value in return for being influenced in the performance of any official act.
[Last modified May 2, 2006, 01:56:04]
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