The Wives' Club

Keeping it in the Doolittle fam'

Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates, people with detailed knowledge of the case say. [...]

Prosecutors are also looking at how some former Congressional staff members landed their lucrative lobbying positions and at the role the wives of several lobbyists and lawmakers may have had in any influence scheme, a piece of the puzzle that investigators have begun referring to privately as the "wives' club."

Well, prosecutors need'nt start anywhere other than the Doolittle family. Congressman Doolittle's wife, Julia, whose records were recently subpoenaed by the Justice Department, was hired by Abramoff to raise money for his foundation and by his consulting firm. She was paid through Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions, a company that she ran out of her home.

"A small business owned by the wife of Rep. John Doolittle is receiving 10 percent commissions for arranging fund-raisers for the Roseville Republican's political action committee, federal records show. The company, Sierra Dominion Financial Services, stages fund-raising events for the congressman's political action committee, the Superior California Federal Leadership PAC. During the current election cycle, the congressman's PAC has paid Sierra Dominion about $28,000 in commissions. That amounts to more than 10 percent of total PAC receipts through the end of June, according to Federal Election Commission reports." [Sacramento Bee, 8/15/04]

And...

Julia Doolittle Retained By Abramoff/Greenburg Traurig For Event Planning Services. Julia Doolittle's attorney, William L. Stauffer Jr., said Sierra Dominion Financial was hired by Greenberg Traurig to provide "event planning, marketing and related services, as requested by Mr. Abramoff" for Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation and his Signatures restaurant. Sierra Dominion received a monthly retainer from Greenberg Traurig from January 2003 until February 2004. Sierra Dominion primarily performed public relations and other event planning services which included, "identifying (and contacting) possible attendees for the event, and assisting in fund raising strategy and letters" said Stauffer. [WaPo Link, LA Times, 11/26/05]

Apparently, she isn't particularly good at her job either:

Julia Doolittle was hired by Greenberg Traurig, to put on a fundraiser for Abramoff's Capitol Athletic Foundation at the International Spy Museum. The Washington Post questioned the effectiveness of the fundraiser, "a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser in March 2003 at the International Spy Museum chaired by Washington Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder and Fox News commentator Tony Snow. Its aim, according to invitations, was to honor James V. Kimsey, the co-founder and former chairman of America Online. ... Kimsey's chief of staff, Peter Kirsch, said that to his knowledge the dinner was rescheduled several times and then canceled; Redskins publicist Karl Swanson said that Snyder "lent" his name to the function at Kimsey's request but never attended. A planner for the event said it was finally held in December. Nothing in the foundation's books indicates that the dinner raised more than a few thousand dollars." [Washington Post, 9/28/04; 11/26/05, Los Angeles Times, 11/26/05]

Comments (4) «

Obviously this is the "Stepford Wives" club. If Abrimoff "talks" you will be amazed at how fast the radical right wing rats jump this sinking ship.

You know the problem with these crooked politicians is that they simply can't stop themselves. They're so greedy that they never have enough of whatever they're grasping for. This is their Achilles heel and you are watching it in action on your TVs and in your newspapers. The carefully constructed, extravegantly funded, narrow-minded plans for the complete takeover of the US government is collapsing before our very eyes. The GOP plan is and has always been decidedly UNAmerican!

1

VannaB on December 21, 2005 at 07:12 PM

Thanks Tim, well done!

John and Julia Doolittle give a whole new meaning to Crime Family.

Fun with John and Julia...Coming to a courtroom near you!

2

DumpDoolittle on December 21, 2005 at 08:47 PM

Do you think a Criminal and a Republican would give you anything worth a decreased sentence?

3

oneforall on December 22, 2005 at 11:21 AM

Government by the people, Government for the people, Government of the people!

For Liberty and Justice for all!

All men are created equal but do they get equal Liberty and Justice?

Does the Government give each one equal tax cuts?

Are the upper wealthy better than we, even the equally educated?

James 2:2&3 Do we tell the wealthy take this upper plush seat and all others set here at their footstool?

What are the Bush People doing to our Nation?
Ecc. 9/11: The race is NOT to the swift;nor the battle to the strong: neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understand: nor yet favour to men of skill: BUT TIME AND CHANCE HAPENETH TO THEM ALL? THE RICH ARE NOT BETTER THAN THE POOR! THEY JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND TOOK A CHANCE! Now if the Bush Administration and the Republicans believed the Bible they would know, they were either born to privilege or happened to be in the right place at the right time. I don't say take from the rich and give to the poor but I don't say take from the poor and give to the wealthy either. We believe in working toward a better life and maybe it will happen to you. But is it God's will for the wealthy to be so untouchable? And for the poor to struggle so and then have the wealthy and powerful wag their tail at them and blame them for being poor.
God no longer prospers the rightous and causes the poor to be poor. That was a covenet with Israel that was broken by the people. Now we have other blessings by serving God and it's not money.

4

oneforall on December 24, 2005 at 04:04 PM

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