A new Nevada company has surfaced in connection with the widening John Ensign probe.
The Associated Press reports:
Glenn McKay, president of The Selling Source LLC, told the AP a subpoena sought records and e-mails about a meeting regarding a campaign contribution between Ensign and Selling Source founder Derek LaFavor. The meeting took place in February or March of 2008, McKay said, adding that no contribution was given and that Hampton’s name did not come up.
McKay did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TPMmuckraker, and Selling Source’s phone system did not allow us to leave a message for LaFavor.
‘But the fact that investigators were interested in the meeting to discuss a campaign contribution, even though it appears to have been unrelated to Doug Hampton, offers additional evidence that the scope of the probe has broadened. Investigators now appear to be looking beyond whether Ensign violated lobbying rules in trying to get Hampton a job, to focus on whether Ensign tied contributions to legislative favors.
It’s also worth noting that LaFavor is a former CEO of credit card company eCommLink — which appears closely tied to Selling Source. eCommLink is another of the Nevada companies that has been subpoenaed in the probe, reportedly in connection with a possible deal to exchange a campaign contribution to Ensign’s NRSC for the senator’s help in blocking proposed new regulations of the credit card industry.
Online records indicate that LaFavor has contributed to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) but not to Ensign or the NRSC.
It’s not known whether the meeting between Ensign and LaFavor also related to the alleged quid pro quo with eCommLink. But the direction in which things are moving may be becoming clearer…
