Peter Visclosky (l) conferring with John Murtha (Getty)
Rep.
Peter J. Visclosky of Indiana, third-ranking Democrat on Rep.
John P. Murtha's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee -- yesterday
asked the Federal Elections Commission for permission to use funds from his campaign committee to pay the lawyers he's hired to represent him in what has been reported to be an investigation of fundraising practices.
Given Visclosky's anemic first-quarter fundraising effort -- he raised just $11,800 from individuals in amounts over $200 this year, compared to $266,250 he raised in the first quarter of 2007 -- it's a sure bet that at least some of the money he'll use to pay his lawyers will be funds he rolled over from earlier campaign fundraising efforts.
That left-over money has to include money that came from officers, employees, and clients of the now defunct lobbying shop PMA Group in previous years.
This is exactly the same thing that former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich last week asked for permission to do -- use campaign funds (allegedly obtained illegally) to pay the legal bills incurred in defending himself against charges that he raised money illegally.
(Since a judge ruled today that he couldn't leave the country to go to the jungles of Costa Rica to compete on "I'm a Celebrity -- Get Me Out of Here!" he's up against the wall trying to pay his legal bills.)
This could become a new industry -- politicians with problems take money from donors with problems, then hire attorneys to defend them, and pay them off with money from the sources that got them in trouble in the first place.
Is it any wonder trial lawyers love Democrats?
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