Abramoff Scandal
Editorial: Rep. Doolittle and shady deal with his wife


"Imagine that every time members of Congress received a $1,000 campaign contribution, they could skim $150 off the top and put it straight into their personal bank accounts. Sound shady? That is, in effect, how Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) and his wife, Julie, operate. According to our review of campaign finance records, Mrs. Doolittle has received at least $215,000 from Mr. Doolittle's various campaign committees since 2001. This doesn't include $6,800 in payments to another of Mrs. Doolittle's companies, Events Plus, before she started doing his fundraising work. She's taken in nearly $100,000 during the 2006 campaign alone.

The arrangement couldn't smell more.

Mrs. Doolittle's company, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions, is based in the couple's Oakton home. It has no phone listing or Web site. A search of campaign databases does not show it doing fundraising work for campaign committees other than those associated with Mr. Doolittle. The only other clients it's reported to have done work for are associated with lobbyist Jack Abramoff: Mrs. Doolittle was hired by Mr. Abramoff's former law firm, Greenberg Traurig, to provide "event planning, marketing and related services" for Mr. Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation and his Signatures restaurant. Mrs. Doolittle also provided bookkeeping services for the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council, founded by Edwin A. Buckham, former chief of staff to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.)."

Get the Story:
Editorial: The Doolittles' Rich Deal (The Washington Post 4/21)
pwpwd

Relevant Links:
Rep. John Doolittle - http://www.house.gov/doolittle

Related Stories:
Rep. Doolittle hires criminal attorney on Abramoff (4/18)
Family, spouses under scrutiny in Abramoff probe (4/10)
Rep. Doolittle won't return convicted lobbyist's cash (4/4)
Rep. Doolittle's wife benefited from DeLay, Abramoff (03/20)
Ex-DeLay aide admits to fleecing wealthy tribes (4/4)
Ex-DeLay aide charged with corruption conspiracy (3/31)
Rep. Doolittle thought Abramoff did a great job for tribes (03/03)
Rep. Doolittle seeks re-election amid Abramoff scandal (2/24)
Rep. Doolittle praised Mississippi Choctaws (2/20)
Rep. Doolittle defends aid for Meskwaki Tribe (02/13)
Congressman returns money to Mississippi Choctaws (2/1)
Rep. Doolittle won't respond to Abramoff story (01/31)
Rep. Doolittle pressed DOI for Abramoff's tribes (01/30)
Tribal political donations under scrutiny in Washington (01/31)
California Congressman admits to liking Abramoff (01/24)
McCain blames both parties for 'out of control' lobbying (01/23)
Abramoff not in NIGA's camp but lobbyist came close (01/19)
Writer paid to praise Choctaws, Abramoff clients (12/16)
Opinion: Abramoff investigation hasn't gone far enough (12/7)
House Democrat leader seeks Abramoff-GOP probe (01/13)
Not all lawmakers are getting rid of Abramoff cash (01/06)
California Congressman linked to Jack Abramoff (11/30)
Abramoff probe spreads to members of Congress (11/28)
Abramoff probe looking into Congress, Bush (11/25)
Column: Here's the Abramoff thirtysomething (11/22)
Lawmakers intervened on behalf of Abramoff (11/17)