LANDRIEU FIGHTS BACK AGAINST BRIBERY CHARGES
Manu Raju of The Hill / January 9, 2008

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), a top target for national Republicans in November, is battling with a government watchdog group that is alleging the senator may have violated federal bribery laws by earmarking funds to a campaign contributor.

The left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) asked the Senate Ethics Committee this week to investigate whether Landrieu acted illegally when she earmarked $2 million for Voyager Expanded Learning four days after receiving $30,000 in campaign contributions from executives with the educational products company. The group also is calling for probes by the Justice Department, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District for Louisiana and the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Landrieu strongly denies the charges.

The complaint said that company founder Randy Best held a 2001 fundraiser for the senator where she secured $30,000 from first-time contributors. Four days later, Landrieu inserted a $2 million earmark into an appropriations bill for District of Columbia schools to purchase the company's unproven reading program, the complaint says.

"It's a win-win situation for Best and lose-lose for the taxpayers and D.C. schoolchildren," Melanie Sloan, CREW's executive director, said in a statement.

Landrieu's office pushed back hard on Wednesday, calling the complaint "frivolous" and "wholly without merit."

"Sen. Landrieu strongly believes that we should not stop seeking new, innovative approaches to educating our young," said Adam Sharp, the senator's communications director. "She is also proud of her record of integrity in public service."

The senator's office released a number of documents that backed the propriety of the earmark and also showed that it had been sought by D.C. public schools. The office also released documents showing that the program had been well-regarded by New Orleans public schools and former Sen. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio), who wanted Ohio schools to buy the program in 2002.

Sloan said Landrieu's response doesn't address the assertion that Landrieu didn't act on the District of Columbia's request until Nov. 6, 2001, four days after the fundraiser. Paul Vance, superintendent of D.C. public schools, sent a letter, dated April 25, 2001, to Landrieu and DeWine asking for money for the program.

Sharp later said that the funding request was less than what the company had sought, and was included in an Oct. 15, 2001, bill unveiled weeks before the Dallas fundraiser.

The spokesman said Landrieu initially made the earmark request on May 15, 2001. On Nov. 6, the senator moved to substitute a corresponding House measure with the text of the committee-approved bill, which is the date highlighted by CREW, Sharp said. The spokesman said the series of events debunks claims that the senator first acted on the earmark after the fundraiser.

It is unclear whether the Senate Ethics Committee will act on the complaint against Landrieu, who also could face a tough reelection bid this fall.