Watchdog: Murkoswki Should Have Disclosed Land DealBill Allison at the Sunlight Foundation has weighed in on our coverage of Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-AK) murky land deal with campaign contributor and real estate developer Bob Penney, who is tied to the Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) investigation. As we reported, Murkowski has refused to disclose the sale price of the plot.
Allison swings at Murkowski’s claim that the sale price is exempt from Senate disclosure rules because she plans to use the 1.27 acres of wooded riverfront property for “personal use.” Allison took a look at the relevant federal law and concludes that the exception Murkowski gives is meant for residences, rather than any kind of use.
[The law] would seem to indicate a pretty air tight requirement to report the sale — even if Murkowski is living in the woods, I don’t think that would qualify as a personal residence.
We’ll let you know if Murkowski changes her mind.