http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000704.php<snip>
It took a while, but Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) finally fessed up to dining with former MZM Inc. owner and Duke Cunningham briber Mitchell Wade. Recall the $2800 meal at Citronelle? The "only-appetizers-and-a-drink" claim? The failure to reimburse or report the meal, which was w-a-a-a-y over the House gift limit?
It turns out Harris enjoyed an earlier dinner with Mitchell -- on his dime -- that she also failed to report or reimburse. Harris dispatched her spokesman to defend her activities, but apparently failed to arm him with a viable set of facts. She made a contribution to a charity for the amount of her meal, he insisted, "but he could provide no details," reports the St. Petersburg Times, which broke the story. "He said he did not know how much that meal cost, how much Harris donated to charity or what the charity was."
Trial Nears for Ex-Official Tied to Lobbyist
A former White House budget official is scheduled to go on trial this week, the first defendant to face a jury in the corruption scandal centered on the lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The former official, David H. Safavian, is charged with lying about his contacts with Mr. Abramoff and about the circumstances of their 2002 golfing trip to Scotland by private jet. (NY Times, Bloomberg)
As lobbyist issue arose, Ney, staff ceased privately paid trips
After accepting 131 trips worth $234,775 in 4 1/2 years, Rep. Bob Ney and his staff haven't let a private outside group pay for their travel since June 14, 2005, according to an Associated Press review of travel disclosure forms Ney's office filed with the House clerk. (AP)