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Feds Seek Vid of Feeney Statement
Federal investigators are continuing on Rep. Tom Feeney's (R-FL) trail. The latest pin to drop -- the FBI has asked Florida Today for a video of an interview with Feeney. During the interview, from September of last year, Feeney minimized his relationship to Jack Abramoff to the vanishing point, saying that "“My office has never done anything for Jack Abramoff” and that "he’s never asked us for anything.” (The St. Petersburg Times later found a possible exception to that.)
“We didn’t have any relationship at all with him other than he gave us a contribution" was the kicker.
Feeney, of course, accompanied Abramoff on one of his infamous golf junkets to Scotland in 2003. Feeney was one among three lawmakers on the trip -- the other two were ex-Reps. Bob Ney (R-OH) and Tom DeLay (R-TX).
The feds appear to be interested in Feeney's public representations about his relationship to Abramoff and that trip to Scotland. During the Florida Today video, he described it as a "legitimate business trip." In April, The St. Petersburg Times and Orlando Sentinel disclosed that FBI agents were seeking emails Feeney's spokesman had sent the papers in answer to questions about the trip.
The question is whether Feeney knew that Abramoff had really paid for the trip, which was supposedly sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research (one of the sham nonprofits Abramoff used as cover). If Feeney lied on the disclosure forms, that would be a crime. Feeney's spokesman told the St. Pete Times "earlier this year that the congressman was not sure who paid for the Scotland visit, but added it could have been Abramoff's clients."
The ethics committee ruled in January that the trip was improper and fined Feeney $5,643.
Via The Crypt.
Comments (19)
bjobotts wrote on June 28, 2007 3:56 PM:Funny but I know a man that looks just like Feeney, has the same look on his face and he quickly and immediately sizes everyone up to see just what he can get out of them. But Feeney isn't like that. He was the only innocent person on that golf trip. He was just invited along (and paid for) because, hey, they just like him. He's fun to hang out with. At least he was as important as Ney and DeLay. That's exactly what the FBI thinks too...as important as Ney and DeLay were to Abramoff. Now it's just a matter of proving it.
pol wrote on June 28, 2007 4:04 PM:Talk about somebody who just "looks" guilty...Duh.
He looks like Will Ferrell...
Tennessean wrote on June 28, 2007 4:13 PM:Oh, God, I hope they get Feeney. As a former Floridian, nothing would make me happier. His conduct and his comments during the 2000 Presidential election were so incredibly arrogant, I prayed then that one day, he'd eat his humble pie. I'm still praying for a huge helping of it for Feeney.
dee illuminati wrote on June 28, 2007 4:56 PM:My Gawd he looks just like Jethro on the Beverly Hillbillies, I think I remember him being especially angry during the confidence vote on the war on terrorism and with Mr. Murtha in particular, you know one of those votes that was decried as political when it was cast with Gonzo?
Yep.. looks like Jethro
mayan wrote on June 28, 2007 5:01 PM:"He looks like Will Farrell" -> on anabolic Kool Aid.
Pro Bushit Troll wrote on June 28, 2007 5:02 PM:Everytime I see that pic I bust a gut.
St. Augustine wrote on June 28, 2007 5:19 PM:Dear Brethern, I realize that many of TPMmuckraker are of tender ages and can only compare Rep. Tom Feeney's face to familiar images. Perhaps an older muckraker will comment upon Tom's resemblence to The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
As I recall, many scenes were shot in Ponce's Land of Flowers just north of my name-sake city. Feeney is no doubt, the unaborted offspring of the creature!
Amen
Mrs Panstreppon wrote on June 28, 2007 5:38 PM:Paul, I don't know why the TPM MR entry for Amy Ridenour's National Center for Public Policy Research doesn't state that Ridenour laundered $2.5 million for Jack Abramoff.
The last I heard, Amy Ridenour is under federal investigation as well she should be. Ridenour lied to the Senate Indian Affairs Comittee when she said she told Congress that she didn't know that the $2.5 million went in Abramoff's pocket.
Take a look at NCPPR 2003 990 - link below. $1.275 million went to Abramoff's Kaygold LLC in care of Greenberg Traurig's address yet Ridenour claims she didn't know Abramoff was behind Kaygold. Ridenour had a professional and ethical responsibility to have have a written consulting agreement with Kaygold LLC before she pad the money but she didn't.
Ridenour gave a $450k grant in 2002 and a $250k grant in 2003 to Abramoff's phony foundation, the Capital Athletic Foundation. When a tax-exempt organization makes a grant, it is required to follow up to make sure the grant money was spent in accordance with the terms of the grant.
How did Ridenour follow up on $700k in phony grants? Isn't this an issue for the IRS? Sounds like fraud to me. Why does the NCPPR still have tax-exempt status?
I've read that Amy Ridenour took a piece of the the $2.5 million she laundered for Abramoff. Proof positive that she knew that what she was doing was money laundering.
Who is protecting Amy Ridenour? How long could it possibly take the DOJ to investigate her? A few payments of a few million in and a few payments of a few million out with Ridenour taking her cut is all there is to it.
George Hamilton-Brown wrote on June 28, 2007 7:10 PM:Congressman Tom Feeney is named as the person that asked for a computer program that would flip votes for the Republican party candidate before the year 2000 election.
On December 6th, 2004 , The BRAD BLOG (www.bradblog.com) published a sworn affidavit [PDF] by Florida software programmer Clint Curtis. In his affidavit and videotaped sworn testimony presented before members of the U.S. House Judiciary committee, Curtis claims to have been asked by U.S. Congressman Tom Feeney (R-FL) to design a "vote-rigging software prototype". This request took place in October 2000 during a meeting at Yang Enterprises, Inc. (YEI), a computer consulting firm in Oviedo, Florida.
...FEENEY'S DENIALS EXPOSED AS LIES...
Tom Feeney has categorically denied all charges made by Curtis and has refused to comment on the record about any of the allegations beyond telling MSNBC that "Curtis has defamed a lot of people". In the meantime, The BRAD BLOG, has so far been unable to find any holes or inconsistencies in any of Curtis' claims. On the contrary, the bulk of Curtis’ claims have so far been proven truthful and legitimate based on a multitude of hard evidence obtained from public documents, court records, newspaper accounts, emails and other materials from a long three year paper trail.
On the other hand, statement after statement made by Feeney, YEI and their attorneys on this matter have turned out to be demonstrably untrue and incorrect based on documented evidence as reported by The BRAD BLOG in myriad subsequent reports.
empy wrote on June 28, 2007 7:14 PM:This clown is my rep. My boss had to make sure I wasn't around the day he came to tour our company. I had told him I would only say two words to Mr. Feeney if given the chance. "YANG ENTERPRISES"
He is, without a doubt, one of the dirtiest people in congress. Bradblog has the complete history of his efforts to develop a computer program to swing the election in South Florida. It's a very interesting story and I highly recommend checking it out. Especially disturbing is the fact that the original Inspector General of the case was found dead in a Georgia hotel room, and the investigation of that death has been shut down after intervention by the FDOT.
http://www.bradblog.com/?page_id=3980
empy wrote on June 28, 2007 7:15 PM:This clown is my rep. My boss had to make sure I wasn't around the day he came to tour our company. I had told him I would only say two words to Mr. Feeney if given the chance. "YANG ENTERPRISES"
He is, without a doubt, one of the dirtiest people in congress. Bradblog has the complete history of his efforts to develop a computer program to swing the election in South Florida. It's a very interesting story and I highly recommend checking it out. Especially disturbing is the fact that the original Inspector General of the case was found dead in a Georgia hotel room, and the investigation of that death has been shut down after intervention by the FDOT.
http://www.bradblog.com/?page_id=3980
CT wrote on June 28, 2007 8:19 PM:Oh dear lord!!!! Hate Feeney if you will but PLEASE don't be sucked into that nutjob who ran against him!!! All of us here in the district worked our butts off for Clint Curtis only to find out that paid our hard earned bucks to his live in girlfriend!!!
YIKES.....find someone who can actually present a good face to the democrat party!!! PULEEEZZZ!!!
CT wrote on June 28, 2007 8:22 PM:CT
Oh dear lord!!!! Hate Feeney if you will but PLEASE don't be sucked into that nutjob who ran against him!!! All of us here in the district worked our butts off for Clint Curtis only to find out that paid our hard earned bucks to his live in girlfriend!!!
I dont' know how we intend to win this seat with a guy who claims that Feeney shot his dogs, put scorpions in his car, etc. We look like total morons...I could run and have more credibility than the nut the Dems put up!!!
YIKES.....find someone who can actually present a good face to the democrat party!!! PULEEEZZZ!!!
Sacredcowboy wrote on June 28, 2007 9:29 PM:CT
I'm a life-long Floridian. Feeney was a bully when he was in the Florida legislature. His way or the highway.
That picture is a headlights photo.
molly wrote on June 28, 2007 9:36 PM:CT is a republican troll.Clint Curtis has had his dog killed as a message to keep quiet. He is lucky to be alive himself. Couragous ... former republican ..who loves his country. Dangerous times for those kind of people.
molly wrote on June 28, 2007 9:43 PM:CT is a republican troll. Clint Curtis used to be a republican and switched to democrat because of what he was asked to do by Feeney. Curtis' dog has been killed as a message. A reporter who was investigating the homicide of the inspecter general, which was originally called suicide, was held by the police for about 8 hours..He needed his heart medicine and was not allowed to have it. Then his mother was murdered. You don't mess around with the folks in Fla.
molly wrote on June 28, 2007 9:47 PM:CT is a republican troll. Clint Curtis was a republican before he was asked to devise software so that the republicans could win elections. Guess they got somebody else to do it.Read bradblog.
empy wrote on June 28, 2007 10:29 PM:CT, please provide any proof you may have of anything Clint has claimed that has been proven false. He testified under oath about his claims. Feeney refuses to testify or answer any questions at all.
Follow Feeney's rise through the republican party and tell me who the nutjob is?
If you worked your butt off for Curtis during the election then I'm a banana. By the way your last line is very revealing.
"YIKES...find someone who can actually present a good face to the democrat party!!!! PULEEZZZ!!!"
Sorry troll, but we call ourselves the Democratic Party, and if you were a member you wouldn't be asking us to find someone, you would be saying we need to find someone.
Back under the bridge!
parrot wrote on June 30, 2007 2:17 AM:I've mentioned it before and I'll mention it again. He looks like he's been preparing to enter a rehab facility for a long time. I'm guessing that when he does, he won't be able to talk to the press but his spokesman will ask that everyone pray for him to be able to overcome his addiction to alcohol and bribes.