Landrieu fights back against bribery charge

[babylonsister]

Landrieu fights back against bribery charge
By Manu Raju | Posted: 1/9/08 3:56 PM
January 09, 2008


Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), a top target for national Republicans in November, is battling with a government watchdog group that is alleging the senator may have violated federal bribery laws by earmarking funds to a campaign contributor.

The left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked the Senate Ethics Committee this week to investigate whether Landrieu acted illegally when she earmarked $2 million for Voyager Expanded Learning four days after receiving $30,000 in campaign contributions from executives with the educational products company. The group also is calling for probes by the Justice Department, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District for Louisiana and the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Landrieu strongly denies the charges.

The complaint said that company founder Randy Best held a 2001 fundraiser for the senator where she secured $30,000 from first-time contributors. Four days later, Landrieu inserted a $2 million earmark into an appropriations bill for District of Columbia schools to purchase the company’s unproven reading program, the complaint says.

“It’s a win-win situation for Best and lose-lose for the taxpayers and D.C. schoolchildren,” Melanie Sloan, CREW’s executive director, said in a statement.

Landrieu’s office pushed back hard on Wednesday, calling the complaint “frivolous” and “wholly without merit.”

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/landrieu-fights-back-against-bribery-charge-2008-01-09.html

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

1. I hate to say it but, she's been a weak link for quite some time.

I believe there is much more to this story. I wonder if she will come out and reveal all, in terms of pressures bordering blackmail or entrapment?

She should fight back. I hope she's had the wherewithall to accumulate an arsenal, though.

[juajen]

2. Frankly, though I am not always in agreement with Mary,

She is too smart to do what is accused. Tricks by somebody, I'm supposing. Her seat is much desired by the pugs. They've already taken back the governorship, I believe, illegally; now, they're after Mary. Even if CREW is left-leaning, I smell Rovian tactics. She will fight back, I hope successfully, because, we Louisianians, love our Landrieus.

[Jacobin]

3. This is what congresscritters do every minute of every day

They hand out taxpayer money for bribes