THE ABRAMOFF GANG: Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) Turns to Former Abramoff Associate for Fundraising

[L. Coyote]

Abramoff Tied GOPer Turns to Former Abramoff Associate for Fundraising
By Paul Kiel - Nov 13, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004694.php


Old habits die hard, I guess.

Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) is under investigation for his ties to Jack Abramoff (http://talkingpointsmemo.com/grandolddocket/abramoff.php#Abramoff), who's still causing plenty of trouble for Republicans, Feeney and Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA http://talkingpointsmemo.com/grandolddocket/abramoff.php#Doolittle) most of all. A Scottish golf junket with Abramoff in 2003 is the source of Feeney's problems. But even as Feeney tries to put Abramoff far behind him ("There's no relationship" http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003092.php) with the help of a legal defense fund (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003507.php), he can't help himself.

Abramoff's old associate Todd Boulanger, The Orlando Sentinel reports (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/orl-feeney1307nov13,0,6322616.story), will be co-hosting a $500-a-person fundraiser for Feeney tonight. Boulanger, Abramoff enthusiasts might remember, was among Abramoff's coterie of go-getting young lobbyists at the firm Greenberg Traurig. And Boulanger's go-getting spirit was on full display in an email TPMmuckraker obtained last year (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002076.php), where he urged others in the office to pony up for Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS), who was a fast friend to the firm's clients (he'd "never said 'no'"). In it, Boulanger allowed that Abramoff's team had already delivered thousands in contributions for Cochran, but that wasn't "good enough for the member who keeps the lights turned on here at Greenberg."

The Sentinel notes that Boulanger, who now works at the lobby shop Cassidy & Associates, represents among other clients Freddie Mac; Feeney sits on the House Financial Services Committee. Boulanger gave Feeney $1,250 in contributions in 2005. Though a number of Boulanger's former colleagues are either in prison or under investigation, Boulanger himself appears never to have been a focus of the investigation.

[L. Coyote]

1. Feeney’s ethics violations stem from his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff

Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) http://www.beyonddelay.org/summaries/feeney.php

Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) is a third-term member of Congress, representing Florida’s 24th congressional district. Rep. Feeney’s ethics violations stem from his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and three trips he took in apparent violation of House travel and gift rules. Rep. Feeney was included in CREW’s 2006 congressional corruption report.

Improper Travel

Rep. Feeney traveled to Scotland to play golf from August 9-14, 2003 initially claiming that the cost of the trip was paid for by the National Center for Public Policy Research. The Center denied paying for the trip and it appears that Jack Abramoff was the person who actually footed the bill. Rep. Feeney violated House rules prohibiting members from accepting travel paid for by lobbyists and taking trips that are primarily recreational.

On January 3, 2007, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct found that Rep. Feeney had inappropriately accepted the privately funded trip, which had no official connection to congressional duties. Rep. Feeney was directed to repay the general Treasury. The FBI is now looking into Rep. Feeney’s relationship with Mr. Abramoff. Rep. Feeney has since established a legal trust to defray his legal fees.

Rep. Feeney visited South Korea on a trip sponsored by the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council (KORUSEC), despite the fact that the organization is registered with the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Rep. Feeney violated the House rule prohibiting members from accepting travel expenses from agents of a foreign principal.

Rep. Feeney and his wife traveled from Orlando, Florida to West Palm Beach, Florida to speak at “Restoration Weekend” from November 13-November 16, 2003. According to the travel disclosure form Rep. Feeney originally submitted to the House Clerk’s office, this trip, which cost $1,430, was paid for by a registered lobbying firm, something prohibited by House rules.

Financial Disclosure Forms

In his 2003 and 2004 financial disclosure forms, Rep. Feeney failed to disclose that he was the co-owner of a rental property in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Rep. Feeney violated the rule requiring members to disclose all rental property.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT ON REP. TOM FEENEY (R-FL) http://www.beyonddelay.org/files/Feeney%20Profile_0.pdf