Abramoff Investigation Snares Another GOP Leader
Doolittle, a conservative from Roseville in northern California, is an ally of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Doolittle called Abramoff a friend and the two had numerous connections. Doolittle accepted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash from Abramoff and interceded on behalf of the lobbyist's American Indian clients.
Doolittle has served in the House since 1991. His wife, Julie, had worked on his campaigns for a fee, a practice that came under fire in 2006. She "charged his campaign and his Superior California Political Action Committee a 15 percent commission on any contribution she helped bring in." According to a professional association, this practice "violates the ethical standards of the industry." Federal records indicate that "she earned more than $100,000 in commissions raising money for her husband's campaign committee during the last two years."
In January, Doolittle said his wife would continue to raise money for his PAC, but not his campaign, and on a straight salary, not commission. Doolittle narrowly defeated his Democratic challenger (three points) in November.
In addition, former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham named Doolittle as a lawmaker who had "helped arrange federal funding for the defense contractors who bribed [Cunningham]."
On the same day as the FBI raid, news reports state that former Doolittle aide and former Abramoff employee Kevin Ring "resigned from a law firm without explanation."