Several members of Congress, including Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and two Democrats, violated ethics rules by taking trips that were funded or partially funded by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, observers say.
DeLay, Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-South Carolina) and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) say their trips to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory were paid by non-profit groups. But Abramoff charged some of their expenses, including airfare and hotels, to his credit card and was later reimbursed by the Preston Gates & Ellis firm, which billed the expenses to its client, the Mariana Islands.
In response, Preston Gates said Abramoff's practice was "contrary to firm policy." Abramoff left the firm in December 2000 to work for Greenberg Traurig.
Separately, The Hill newspaper is reporting that Republicans in the House and Senate attended an international trade seminar in Ireland in 2003. Their $25,000 stay at a luxury hotel was footed by a lobbying firm, the paper said.
And Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Washington), the senior Democrat on the House Interior Appropriations subcommittee, went to a military conference in Florida on a lobbying firm's dime. He is reimbursing the $571 for lodging and meals paid by the Spectrum Group.
Get the Story:Democrats' Travel Costs Linked to Lobbyist (The Washington Post 5/4)
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Papers Show Lobbyist Paid for Congressional Travel (The New York Times 5/4)
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Records: members traveled on lobbyists' dime (The Hill 5/4)
Dicks repays lobbying firm (AP 5/4)
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