CA-04: Target

I just got an email from the Charlie Brown campaign about

Tuesday's Sacramento Bee reported that John Doolittle continues to insist he is not under Federal investigation despite mounting evidence to the contrary. "Doolittle's office in a statement late Monday again insisted that the congressman is not under investigation. Instead, it characterized the meetings as an effort initiated by Doolittle to clear the congressman's name." ( Sacramento Bee, 10/17/06)

Legal experts familiar with Justice Department investigations say that Doolittle is not telling the truth about the extent of the investigation and is likely to be a subject of ongoing proceedings. Recent discoveries:

On Saturday, the Washington Post reported sources confirming Doolittle is a target of the U.S. Department of Justice probe into Jack Abramoff's bribery of Members of Congress. ( Washington Post, 10/14/06)

On Sunday, FEC filings showed that Doolittle spent over $38,000 for legal advice in the last two months related to Abramoff. Jack Abramoff pled guilty to wire fraud, tax evasion and bribing Members of Congress. Doolittle hired David Barger, who specializes in white-collar criminal defense, government investigations and criminal and civil tax controversies. ( Sacramento Bee, 10/17/06)

Legal expert and former Counsel to the House of Representatives from 1976 to 1984, Stanley Brand said, "John Doolittle's claim that he is not under investigation is just not credible. The U.S. Justice Department is not a public relations machine. You don't send a lawyer to the Justice Department to clear your name." "It's a matter of fact," Brand continued, "that records pertaining to John Doolittle's interaction with Jack Abramoff were subpoenaed. The Justice Department does not subpoena records of people who are not under investigation."

CQ has more. Looks like Charlie Brown can use the campaign slogan of "Vote for me because I'll be out of jail next year."