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Congress To Probe Forged Climate Change Letters
Zachary Roth | July 31, 2009, 2:13PM
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That was quick.
A Democratic lawmaker has announced an investigation into the forged letters sent by a Washington lobbying firm to a member of Congress. The letters, which purported to come from Hispanic and African-American groups, urged Rep. Tom Perriello to oppose the recent climate change bill.
Rep. Ed Markey, who chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, just sent out the following release:
Markey Announces Investigation into Forged Letters to CongressmanDC Lobbying Firm Sent Fake Letters Opposing Clean Energy Legislation
WASHINGTON (July 31, 2009) - Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, released the following statement in response to news reports of forged letters being sent to a Member of Congress by a Washington lobbying firm working against clean energy legislation:
"This fraud on Congress shows that some opponents of clean energy have resorted to forgery and theft to block progress.
"This is an appalling abuse, and Congressman Tom Perriello deserves great credit for seeing through it and casting a vote that will create clean energy jobs in Virginia and throughout the United States. I encourage all Members of Congress to be on the lookout for other suspicious and illegal materials.
"My Select Committee will immediately begin an investigation of the extent and scope of this activity."
Shouldn't take too long to get to the bottom of this.
Late Update: A Markey spokesman confirms to TPMmuckraker that the probe will look into the questions, among others, of who Bonner and Associates was hired by, and whether other lawmakers received similar letters. And he noted that the committee has subpoena power -- though it would prefer to proceed through cooperation.
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agio
July 31, 2009 2:54 PM
My rep... go Markey.
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JNagarya
August 3, 2009 8:08 PM in reply to agio
Of the fifty states, MA may have the best Congressional delegation.
Yes, Markey. Yes Ted Kennedy.
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soupson52
July 31, 2009 2:59 PM
Congrats! Wish I could be proud. I'm CA (R)Gallegly district. I do live near Waxman's district! BTW, I will remember Rep Markey's name from here on out!
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JNagarya
August 3, 2009 8:09 PM in reply to soupson52
Of the fifty states, MA may have the best Congressional delegation.
Yes, Markey. Yes Ted Kennedy.
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CT Voter
July 31, 2009 3:14 PM
Good.
Could you change the picture associated with this? It looks like Periello's the one in trouble.
And too bad this investigation couldn't take place NOW, rather than after the recess, because it could have an impact on the kind of lobbying that will be done for health care.
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Global Integrity
July 31, 2009 3:17 PM in reply to CT Voter
Agree ^
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worthy9
August 1, 2009 6:53 PM in reply to Global Integrity
yup
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JNagarya
August 3, 2009 8:11 PM in reply to CT Voter
The Congressional staff isn't on vacation. They'll be devloping this as, at least, a legal issue between now and September.
Meanwhile, this is exactly how the lobbyists are working across the board -- including (but not only) health care. THIS expose can blow any number of those frauds out of the water.
And we're talking not "politics" but CRIMINAL: FRAUD ON CONGRESS.
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Jack Conway
July 31, 2009 4:17 PM
More please on the suspiciously contrite Bonner.
His tactics and that posed Junior Chamber of Commerce, eager-capitalism-in-profile picture suggest proud and deep Republican
roots.
Without evidence, and unwilling to pay a Washington
grifter to fabricate some, I'm still prepared to think that Bonner's gravy train is tainted and is, if Markey's just the least diligent, about to be derailed.
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neesy08
July 31, 2009 8:07 PM
How many investigations are going on right now? Boner & Assoc. need to be punished for this. Loss of their lobbying license sounds good to me.
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VACommonsense
July 31, 2009 10:22 PM
If they used the U.S. mail, I believe that mail fraud is a felony. I'm not a lawyer, but jail sounds good in addition to losing their lobbying license.
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FlownOver
August 1, 2009 12:19 PM
Screw the "cooperation." Get the subpoenas out and perp-walk these criminals into the hearing room.
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pirate jenny
August 1, 2009 1:31 PM
I think it's wire fraud:
§ 1343. Fraud by wire, radio, or television
Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If the violation occurs in relation to, or involving any benefit authorized, transported, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, or paid in connection with, a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122)), or affects a financial institution, such person shall be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/1343.html
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Long Memory
August 4, 2009 1:07 PM
Just remember, we're dealing with Washington here. Washington is a place where you can out the identity of a CIA agency and get away with it "because you didn't know she was covert."
This looks like wire fraud or mail fraud or SOME KINDA fraud to us, but I'm sure in Washington they'll be allowed to agree to go and sin no more.
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Long Memory
August 4, 2009 1:09 PM
My bad. Had I previewed the message I would have seen my mistakes. The message should read:
Just remember, we're dealing with Washington here. Washington is a place where you can reveal the identity of a CIA agent and get away with it "because you didn't know she was covert."
This looks like wire fraud or mail fraud or SOME KINDA fraud to us, but I'm sure in Washington they'll be allowed to agree to go and sin no more.
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