LaTourette wrote letter to GSA for Abramoff lobbying associate

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http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1138268628217260.xml&coll=2

Thursday, January 26, 2006
Sabrina Eaton

Washington - Rep. Steve LaTourette assisted disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2002 by writing a pair of letters to the Bush administration at the request of an Abramoff associate.

LaTourette didn't do anything improper, but he did something that a number of other lawmakers have found embarrassing - writing letters as a favor to someone who winds up mired in controversy.

"There is nothing about the letters that I feel bad about, although who wants to be connected to Jack Abramoff?" the Concord Township Republican said Wednesday.

LaTourette's September 2002 letters pertained to redevelopment of the historic Old Post Office in Washington, D.C. He said he wrote them at the request of Neil Volz, who became a lobbyist for Abramoff after serving as chief of staff for LaTourette's friend, Licking County Republican Rep. Bob Ney...