The Corruption Connections Keep On Coming

Robert Novak's column on Sept 16th picks up another Sweeney corruption connection. John Sweeney's re-election consultant, Jim Dornan, has been questioned by the DOJ.

Jim Dornan, one of the former managers of Rep. Katherine Harris's beleaguered Republican Senate candidacy in Florida, has told associates he was startled by how aggressively the FBI questioned him Sept. 6.

Dornan was interrogated for an hour and a half by federal agents as part of their inquiry into Harris's political contributions from defense contractor Mitchell Wade, who has pleaded guilty to bribery in another case. Dornan described the FBI as pressing him hard about Harris.

Dornan, a lobbyist and fund-raiser, is currently consulting for Rep. John Sweeney's re-election campaign in upstate New York. He left the Harris campaign last November.

Pushing Rope says "Dornan was Harris's campaign manager when she accepted $32,000 in contributions from convicted lobbyist Mitchell Wade."

"The Justice and Defense departments are examining Harris' dealings with Mitchell Wade, who made illegal campaign contributions to Harris and later asked her to help secure $10-million in federal money for a company project." (St. Petersburg Times).

Mitchell Wade is a donor to JACK PAC which has given Sweeney $3000 to date. JACK PAC has issues of its own. According to the Washington Post, The "D.C. OFFICE of Campaign Finance is conducting an audit of a political action committee known as the D.C. Fund (formerly the "Jack PAC"), ...At issue is whether Mr. Evans, an announced candidate for council chairman next year, violated D.C. campaign finance law and regulations in the use of a political action committee's funds." (see "PAC or Piggy Bank" for more.) Sweeney took $1000 from JACK PAC after the investigation was reported.

Should Sweeney give this $3,000 back to Jack?

We're wondering if any of these connections are the reason for the Department of Justice Probe on Sweeney? Also in the news: Newsday had good coverage on the Congressional Winter Challenge Report, read it here. We ask: Now will the house investigate Sweeney on the issue of invitation list since his role seems to be in violation of House Ethics rules?