U.S. Looks Into Gifts to Ex-Congressman, Now Governor

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http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070216/ZNYT02/702160842

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 — Federal authorities are investigating gifts and payments that Gov. Jim Gibbons of Nevada received as a congressman from an executive of a software company that got millions of dollars in federal contracts, government officials said Thursday.

Investigators are examining whether the gifts and payments to Mr. Gibbons, a Republican, were in exchange for his help as a member of the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees.

The payments were from Warren Trepp, owner of eTreppid Technologies, based in Reno. The company was awarded contracts from several government agencies including the Air Force, the Special Operations Command and the Central Intelligence Agency.

Mr. Gibbons took office as governor last month after serving five terms in the House. A telephone call on Thursday to the office of his press secretary was not returned. Calls to Mr. Trepp and the office of his lawyer were not returned.