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Lewis pays $750,000 for legal costs of probe
Inland Southern California
By DUANE W. GANG
October 13, 2006

Inland Rep. Jerry Lewis has paid $750,000 to a prominent Los Angeles-based law firm to handle aspects of an ongoing federal investigation into his relationship with an embattled Washington lobbying firm, newly released campaign finance records show.

Congressional rules allow tapping campaign funds for legal expenses. Neither the Redlands Republican nor the firm formerly known as Copeland, Lowery, Jacquez, Denton & White have been charged with wrongdoing.

But the ongoing inquiry has put drain on Lewis' campaign funds. The amount he has paid to the law firm represents 65 percent of the $1.16 million he has raised through Sept. 30.

"Congressman Lewis has availed himself of excellent legal representation so that this matter may be resolved expeditiously while he focuses his efforts on doing the work of the people of the 41st district of California," Lewis spokeswoman Barbara Comstock said in a statement Wednesday. "We are confident that Congressman Lewis has honorably served his constituents and that he will be fully exonerated once this investigation is completed," she said.

In May, a federal grand jury subpoenaed documents from a host of Inland cities and counties as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. The subpoenas asked for billing statements and communications among Lewis, his staff, the Copeland, Lowery firm and its clients.

Two Lewis staffers have worked for the firm, and Lewis is a friend of firm partner Bill Lowery, a former San Diego-area congressman.

Lewis has won re-election easily in the past and is not expected to be ousted next month. He has more than $1 million cash on hand, and his Democratic opponent on Nov. 7, Louie A. Contreras, of Hesperia, has not raised significant amounts of money. Contreras, who has a Web site, did not file campaign-disclosure reports for the period ending Sept. 30.

Still, Lewis continues to raise and spend large amounts of money. From the 2002 election cycle through Sept. 30, when the most recent data are available, a review of expenditures found the Lewis campaign committee:

Contributed $1.34 million to other candidates and Republican party committees.

Paid more than $833,000 in legal and administrative fees, including $200,000 in June to hire a defense team at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher and another $551,400 to the firm since July 1.

Paid out more than $427,000 to put on fundraisers -- including a $4,000 fee to his stepdaughter Julia Willis-Leon for a 2004 Las Vegas event.

Spent more than $224,000 on food and beverages.

Bought nearly $50,000 in gifts for donors, constituents and staff. Most of the money for gifts was spent at the House and Senate gifts shops. But purchases also included $2,511 in wine to be included in gift baskets and $663 worth of flags for contributors bought at a Bethesda, Md., Nordstrom.

Purchased $25,000 in stock from Security Bank of California, a startup that is chaired by a longtime friend.

Spent no money on political consultants, polls or political advertising.

Campaign experts say incumbents without strong opposition often donate to candidates and colleagues in tougher races. That is especially true if the congressman holds a leadership position. Lewis chairs the House Appropriations Committee.

"That's almost a requisite on both sides," said Allan Hoffenblum, a GOP consultant and editor of the nonpartisan California Target Book. "You have to go out and use your safe seat to raise big bucks and give it to your party or key candidates."

Still, some groups are critical of the process, which sees some lawmakers bank thousands of dollars without significant opposition. With no competition, fewer donors from an incumbent's home state feel the need to contribute. Instead, those funding an incumbent's campaign are seeking access to government, they say.

Bob Stern, president of the Los Angeles-based Center for Governmental Studies, said, "It is not like (Lewis) needs the money for re-election. For him, campaign money is really not election money but government-access money."

Campaign data from FECInfo shows in the 2006 election cycle, Lewis has accepted 74 percent of the nearly $1.16 million he raised from out of state.

"In the House, much of the money raised these days comes from Washington-based donors. That's been a growing problem," said Fred Werthheimer, head of Democracy21 and a campaign-finance reform advocate. "Over the years, we have seen members raise less and less from home. The problem with that is most of the Washington, D.C.-based sources are influence seekers."

"We don't want decisions being made by those who an put up the most money," Wertheimer said. "That leaves out most of the American people."

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