Rep. Feeney owes public answers, now

[maddezmom]

The confessions of the latest aide to plead guilty in the Jack Abramoff congressional corruption scandal leave U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, in a vulnerable position. Feeney has repeatedly said he was duped into thinking his 2003 Scotland golfing trip was financed by a nonprofit think tank. But now we know the erroneous name and expense Feeney reported came from Abramoff.

~snip~

"In fact, as Zachares knew, the costs were higher, there was no official purpose, and Zachares attended the trip for the free golf and to further his relationship and plan with Abramoff, " said a new court document.

Feeney was on the same Scotland trip as Zachares, and one recipient of the Bowers e-mail was Feeney's then-executive assistant Eliza Baker. On House disclosure forms, Feeney reported the same source and same amount, $5, 463, as directed by the e-mail. When asked to explain the similarity, his press secretary would say only that: "Representative Feeney is anxious to discuss this matter further when the time is appropriate."

If the congressman believes his constituents and a public fed up with scandal can wait until "the time is appropriate, " he is mistaken. Eleven people now have been convicted in the Abramoff investigation, and Feeney is being labeled in court records as "Representative #3." He has said he was "duped and lied to, " but these records make his office look complicit.

more:http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/29/Opinion/Rep_Feeney_owes_publi.shtml