When it comes to stretching a one- or two-day story into a weeks-long fiasco, Katherine Harris takes the cake. Or in this case, the wine.
We learned some weeks ago she shared a pricey dinner with admitted felon Mitchell Wade, after which she tried (and failed) to win a $10 million earmark that would have benefited Wade and his company, MZM Inc.
First Harris insisted she paid for her meal. But we later discovered she didn’t — which is a violation of Congressional ethics rules.
Then we learned that the meal was for a whopping $2,800. Harris: I only ate $100 worth, and in lieu of payment I contributed $100 to charity. Her explanation for the size of the bill? Wade bought two $1000+ bottles of wine, and took the unfinished portions with him.
Now, the St. Petersburg Times gives that explanation a hearty hell-no. Via its blog:
One problem with that story? Patrons can’t take bottles from the restaurant. Citronelle maitre d’ Jean-Jacques Retourne told us that would have violated the restaurant’s liquor license. “You cannot take a bottle out.”
