Incumbents being investigated raise $1.2M

By Matt Kelley, USA Today

November 19, 2007

Seven lawmakers seeking re-election while under federal investigation raked in nearly three times as much in campaign donations as their opponents in the latest fundraising period, records show.

The incumbents raised more than $1.2 million, while six challengers raised almost $425,000 in the three months ending Sept. 30, according to Federal Election Commission records. Three of the incumbents — including Rep. William Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat under indictment on corruption charges — don't have announced opponents; some have multiple opponents. Of the seven, only Jefferson has been charged with a crime. All have denied wrongdoing.

Many contributors want to influence current actions in Congress, not necessarily the next election, says Elizabeth Garrett, a law and political science professor at the University of Southern California.

"If you're an interest group, what you're concerned about is, 'Will this person continue to be in a position to do things in my favor or to keep bad things from happening?' " Garrett says.

Despite the investigations, most of the lawmakers remain in powerful positions. Three are members of the appropriations committees that control federal spending.

Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young took in $143,000 during the past quarter, compared with $236,000 for the same period in 2005, when he was chairman of the transportation committee.

Young's campaign spent more on lawyers — nearly $185,000 — than it took in, but it ended September with nearly $1.5 million in the bank, the most of any lawmaker under investigation. Young's two Democratic opponents ended the quarter with less than $60,000 on hand combined. Young's biggest donor during the quarter was the Sheet Metal Workers International Association political committee, which gave $10,000.

The Associated Press, the Anchorage Daily News and other news organizations have reported that federal authorities are investigating Young's ties to oilfield services executives who have pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska state lawmakers. "I can't really comment on the ongoing investigation," Young told the AP in August.

The highly publicized FBI raid on the Alaska home of Sen. Ted Stevens has not stopped the No. 2 Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Stevens raised $441,000 during the past quarter, compared with $15,000 for Democrat Rocky Caldero.

Stevens, who has $1 million in campaign funds, has traveled extensively in Alaska since the raid July 30, and "he got a very warm reception virtually everywhere," campaign treasurer Tim McKeever said in an e-mail. Stevens' largest source of campaign money during the quarter was Alaska Structures, which makes military tents. Nine of the company's executives gave Stevens a total of $14,850 on Sept. 29, FEC records show.

Though campaign donations may not be spent for personal use, the Federal Election Commission has said the money could be used to fight an investigation as long as the allegations of wrongdoing related to conduct in office.

Having power helps lawmakers such as Stevens and Young raise campaign donations, says Norman Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank. "If you fund the member and everything turns out OK, they'll never forget what you've done for them," he says.

The exception in the incumbent group is Rep. John Doolittle, a California Republican who stepped down from the House Appropriations Committee this spring after FBI agents searched his home as part of an investigation into a political fundraising firm run by his wife.

Democrat Charlie Brown, who lost last year's election to Doolittle 49% to 46%, raised $212,000 during the past quarter, more than four times the $50,000 Doolittle raised. Current Republican challenger Eric Egland raised nearly $80,000.

Doolittle's biggest contribution during the past quarter was $5,000 from Rich PAC, the political action committee of former California Republican representative Richard Pombo. Doolittle campaign spokesman Richard Temple did not respond to repeated requests for comment.