FBI pulled files on Specter after USA Today story on earmarks for clients of lobbyists related to Senator's aides
The USA Today article had reported that "Specter obtained a $200,000 grant last year for a Philadelphia foundation represented by the son of one of Specter's top aides."
According to Roll Call, a review of "lobbying records, travel forms and press releases issued by Specter’s office suggests that Pennsylvania-based companies and organizations in search of funding have long made it a point to retain the lobbying services of Specter’s former aides or relatives of current staffers."
According to Senate records, Specter is the second Senator this session to have his financial forms reviewed by federal investigators. Justice Department lawyers last year pulled filings for Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and a number of his former and current staffers.
The FBI review also came just weeks before federal investigators pulled the files of Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and House Appropriations Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) — as well as members of Lewis’ staff — as part of their investigation of potential abuses of the earmarking system.
But unlike other recent instances of federal investigators reviewing Members’ financial forms, which is historically very rare, neither Specter, his staff nor those close to them have been implicated in any ethics investigations or have any subpoenas been filed involving Specter or his staff.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/FBI_pulled_files_on_Specter_after_1010.html
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