OH Nancy...say it isn't so: "TPM" Pelosi Paying Thousands to Husband's Firm. [View All]

[KoKo]

OH Nancy...say it isn't so: "TPM" Pelosi Paying Thousands to Husband's Firm...


Pelosi paying thousands to husband's firm

Pelosi defends payments from her political action committee to her husband's firm

ERICA WERNER
AP News

Oct 02, 2008 16:23 EST

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that it's "just foolish" to suggest that her husband is benefiting from tens of thousands of dollars one of her political committees is paying a firm he owns.

Pelosi, D-Calif., also disputed the notion that the arrangement contradicts her support last year for legislation that would have banned spouses from benefiting, directly or indirectly, from political committees controlled by their husbands or wives.

Paul Pelosi has been treasurer of the speaker's "PAC to the Future" political action committee since last year, after the death of the previous treasurer. The PAC has paid his investment and consulting firm, Financial Leasing Services Inc., more than $50,000 since last year for accounting services and rent, plus at least $20,000 more in prior years.

Pelosi contended Thursday that she was merely complying with the law by reimbursing her husband's firm for what would otherwise amount to improper "in-kind" donations of services to her committee.

"My husband's not a political consultant or anything like that. It is just honoring the law to say if you use the facility, you have to pay for it. And everybody has to do that, and that's again in compliance with the law," Pelosi said.

"He would be happy not to have this on his turf I'm sure," she said. "No, it doesn't benefit my husband. That is foolish to say."

Pelosi's aides said they would review the arrangement after the election.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/10/pelosi_paying_thousands_to_hus.php