February, 11 2009, 01:38pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Naomi Seligman 202.408.5565
CREW Welcomes Rep. Murtha to Long List of Corrupt Congressmen in Denial
WASHINGTON
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) has suggested that because he has not been contacted by any federal agency, he is not under federal investigation.
Rep. Murtha's spokesperson, Matthew Mazonkey, emailed the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "We have not been contacted by any federal agency, and no one is suggesting that Jack Murtha has anything to do with this. Period."
In response, CREW's executive director Melanie Sloan stated, "the Department of Justice is under no obligation to contact a member of Congress under federal investigation, so Rep. Murtha's statement is virtually meaningless. Rep. Murtha now joins a long list of lawmakers who have issued just such denials before criminal investigations into their conduct became public."
Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH)
Rep. Ney's spokesperson said Ney "has not been told that he is a target of any investigation and there would be no grounds to do so." Roll Call, 11/20/2005
On October 13, 2006, Ney pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements.
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
Rep. Renzi's lawyer said Renzi "was not aware of any investigation and had not been contacted by the U.S. attorney's office." Associated Press, 10/24/2006
Renzi was indicted on February 22, 2008 on charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, concealment of money laundering, transactions with criminally derived funds, extortion, insurance fraud and criminal forfeiture.
Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA)
Rep. Doolittle's spokesperson said "the congressman has not been subpoenaed or questioned by the Justice Department or the FBI." San Francisco Chronicle, 12/27/2005
Doolittle's home was raided by the FBI on April 13, 2007. In September 2007, two of his former aides were subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in a probe of Doolittle's relationship with Jack Abramoff.
Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)
Rep. Weldon's chief of staff said, "I think if there was an investigation, somebody would have contacted us." Associated Press, 10/24/2006
On October 16, 2006, federal agents raided the home of Weldon's daughter, Karen, as well as five other locations of Weldon associates in Pennsylvania and Florida as part of the investigation. On October 18, 2006, The Washington Post reported a grand jury had been impaneled to investigate Weldon.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials -- regardless of party affiliation -- who sacrifice the common good to special interests. CREW advances its mission using a combination of research, litigation and media outreach.
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