Wacky, Wacky Weldon
Oct 28th, 2006 at 8:19 pm by Susie
Hey, if you’re not in politics to help your family, what’s the point?
WASHINGTON | Rep. Curt Weldon, under investigation for allegedly trading his influence to get lobbying business for a daughter, also helped corporations that have hired another daughter, former aides said.
Federal Election Commission reports show that within months of Weldon’s advocacy, three of these firms and their executives gave more than $95,000 in political contributions to the 10-term Pennsylvania Republican.
Most of those donations were made in 2001 and 2002 to a soft money account that helped foot unspecified travel expenses for Weldon and his top aide, according to the FEC filings.
Weldon’s financial and lobbying relationships helped cement his rise to power as the vice chairman of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security committees. Now they have drawn the FBI’s attention as part of a Justice Department criminal investigation into possible congressional corruption.
Weldon, who is up for re-election, has denied any wrongdoing, and has charged that the FBI investigation is part of a left-wing conspiracy. His attorney, William Winning of Philadelphia, did not respond to phone messages.
His lawyer is Winning, but he may not be.