| For Immediate Release Mar 6, 2002 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5188 |
BUSH ADMINISTRATION BRIEFINGS ON ENERGY, COMMERCE, AND MEDICAID/MEDICARE ALSO SOLD TO DONORS FOR MARCH 13-14 EVENT JUDICIAL WATCH DEMANDS INVESTIGATION INTO CLINTONIAN “SALE OF PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PRIVATE GAIN” (Washington, DC) Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, last week obtained a fundraising solicitation from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) which sells access to national security and other policy briefings by members of Congress and top Bush Administration officials during a March 13-14 donor event. The solicitation touts a “special briefing on Homeland Security and National Defense.” It also implies that secret, classified information will be available at this briefing, as it says in the next line, “For security reasons you must be able to show proper identification during registration and check-in.” Congressman Porter Goss, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, is listed as giving the National Defense briefing. A copy of the solicitation is linked below. The letter is signed by Congressman Tom Davis, chairman of the NRCC, and invites donors to join the “Speaker’s Circle” for a $1,000 contribution or attend the event, the “20002 NRCC Economic Recovery Workshop,” for a $250 fee as part of an award program for Republican of the Year. Other Congressmen involved in the donor event include Congressman Bill Thomas, Chairman of the “tax-writing” House Ways and Means Committee, who is touted as providing a briefing on “How to Cut Taxes and Stimulate Your Business.” House Majority Whip Tom Delay is also an integral part of the program. (Judicial Watch is already in court over a previous similar fundraising scheme by the NRCC and Congressman Delay.) Bush Administration officials are also scheduled to give briefings. Judicial Watch filed today criminal and ethics complaints with the appropriate authorities about this “sale of public office for private gain” and for the sale of secret, classified information to donors. Click here to view the complaint. “This latest illegal pitch from the House Republican fundraising apparatus is the lowest of the low – selling national security briefings for campaign cash. Presumably, as long as Osama bin Laden or his ilk pony up the cash as campaign donors, they would qualify for an intelligence briefing, courtesy of the House Intelligence Committee. The law ought to come down on these sleazy officials like a hammer,” stated Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. Page 1 of Solicitation Page 2 of Solicitation Page 3 of Solicitation Page 4 of Solicitation Page 5 of Solicitation | |