Jerry Lewis “Angered” By LA Times PieceRep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, reacts to this morning’s LA Times piece citing three anonymous sources who say there’s a federal corruption investigation into his activities:
“I have never, under any circumstances, told or suggested to someone seeking federal dollars for a project that they would receive favorable treatment by making campaign donations,” Lewis’ statement said. “If I learned that anyone on my staff made such a suggestion, they would no longer be working for me.”
He and his staff have not been contacted by Justice “with regard to an investigation into my congressional service,” he said.
“I am angered and frustrated by anonymous sources, either inside or out of the Justice Department, who would imply to journalists that an investigation has been launched,” he said, particularly since “no suggestion has been made that an investigation is needed.” (I assume CREW is wondering if it’s chopped liver.)
But the LA Times‘ anonymous sources aren’t the only ones who have gotten under the lawmaker’s skin. Cunningham also made him very, very mad:
Lewis also said he had never been as angry at anyone in his entire career as he was at Cunningham, who served with him on the Defense Appropriations subcommittee. “The standards of integrity I have followed in my career are a direct repudiation of the kind of behavior displayed by Mr. Cunningham,” he said.
