Feds query ex-adviser on (Katherine) Harris

[soup]

Feds query ex-adviser on Harris

Jim Stratton | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted July 18, 2006

Federal investigators have interviewed U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris' former top political strategist about the congresswoman's dealings with a defense contractor at the center of a widening Capitol Hill corruption probe.

Political consultant Ed Rollins confirmed Monday that Justice Department lawyers and FBI agents recently questioned him for two hours in Washington. He said the discussion focused on Harris' dealings with Mitchell Wade, a defense contractor who funneled $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Harris and also bribed a former California congressman.

Wade, who is cooperating with federal authorities, pleaded guilty to giving the illegal donations to Harris in 2004. He also admitted trying to curry favor with her in 2005 by offering to hold a fundraiser for her U.S. Senate campaign in Florida.

Rollins would not discuss his conversation with Justice investigators, saying only: "I assume more will be coming, though. They were very serious."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-harris1806jul18,0,1817946.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

[RCinBrooklyn]

1. Please let the rile her enough to admit 2000 was 100% election fraud!

[Kahuna]

2. Rut roh...

:popcorn:

[soup]

3. Maybe Cunningham and Wade will get some company.

Probably gonna need more than one bag. :popcorn: :popcorn:
This could get very interesting.

[gratuitous]

4. Will Cruella issue another demented statement?

I'm always looking for something good to come out of a situation, and though Ms. Harris has been a net loss for our country by any measure, our political folklore is slightly enriched by her lunatic rantings on a variety of subjects. I look forward to her next crazy pronouncement.

[tanyev]

5. Oooooopsie.

Maybe Kathy should hold off on using some of her campaign money to remodel her house. Sounds like she might have a nice cozy little jail cell waiting for her.

[soup]

6. Buckle up....

Justice requests records from Katherine Harris' U.S. Senate campaign

By Jim Stratton
Orlando Sentinel
Posted July 19 2006

Justice Department officials have requested records from the Senate campaign of U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Sarasota, as they continue investigating the dealings of a defense contractor involved in a wide-ranging congressional corruption case.

Harris acknowledged the Justice Department action Tuesday after her campaign was asked about it earlier in the day. It was not clear whether federal prosecutors issued a subpoena or sent a letter to the campaign in search of information, and a Harris spokeswoman would not elaborate.

In a news release, Harris said prosecutors told her that she was "not a target of the investigation" surrounding Mitchell Wade, a defense contractor who has pleaded guilty to bribing a California congressman and funneling $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Harris in 2004. Wade is now cooperating with federal prosecutors in their Capitol Hill corruption investigation.
>snip<

Recent campaign finance reports show Harris has paid the Washington, D.C., law firm of Patton Boggs $35,000 since mid-May. The Justice Department's records request was made in May, according to Harris' news release.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-fharris19jul19,0,2787343.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

Passin the popcorn and pouring a soda :popcorn:

[yellowcanine]

7. "Harris said prosecutors told her that she was "not a target ...."

I don't know why but that just makes me want to guffaw. Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw!
Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw!
Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw!
Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw!
Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw! Guffaw!

[soup]

8. Guffaw away! and in the continuing saga of K. "I'm Not a Target" Harris

This morning brings us:

Guffaw! number 1:

Former Harris Adviser To Talk To Authorities

By KEITH EPSTEIN and WILLIAM MARCH The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 20, 2006

WASHINGTON - The former head of Katherine Harris' congressional office staff expects to speak to federal investigators soon concerning the investigation of a congressional bribery scandal, a former Harris aide said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued late Wednesday, the Harris campaign declined to provide specifics about the investigation.

Fred Asbell, who quit in June as chief of staff of Harris' congressional office, says he will speak voluntarily to Department of Justice investigators soon, said Ed Rollins, former consultant to Harris' U.S. Senate campaign.
>snip<

Concerning more than $35,000 the campaign has paid to the Washington law firm she (Harris) hired when she initially was linked to the investigation, she said only that it was for "gathering … all facts necessary" to cooperate.<
http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB1FPJHUPE.html

--

and Guffaw! number 2:


Probe moves closer to Harris

Two former aides have become part of the investigation into her dealings with a contractor convicted of bribery. She insists she did nothing wrong.

By ANITA KUMAR, Times Staff Writer
Published July 19, 2006

WASHINGTON — One former top aide to Rep. Katherine Harris has been questioned and a second soon will be amid an escalating inquiry into the relationship between the congresswoman and a defense contractor.

Investigators with the Justice and Defense departments, along with the FBI and a federal grand jury, are examining Harris’ dealings with Mitchell Wade, who made illegal campaign contributions and later asked her to help secure $10-million in federal money for his company.
>snip<

>Harris said federal officials recently told her attorney that she was not a target of the investigation into Wade, who admitted bribing a California congressman who also pleaded guilty. But Harris refused to answer questions, including who told her she was not a target or when.

Former federal prosecutors say her vague statement doesn’t necessarily mean she’s in the clear.

“If she’s not a target, that’s nice, but that doesn’t mean she’s not under scrutiny,” said Ed Page, a former federal prosecutor who works at the Carlton Fields law firm in Tampa. “It’s sort of a play on words.”<
http://www.sptimes.com/2006/07/19/State/Probe_moves_closer_to.shtml


soup ---> throwing in a few *snickers* to go with the Guffaw!s

[yellowcanine]

9. I will see your snickers and raise you a couple of horsey snorts like

Lily Tomlin used to do on "Laugh In".

Tomlin, (hitching up her bra and blowing a gum bubble) "Is this the party to whom I am speaking? Honk, Snort"