Lewis Faces Probe, But Pals Stand By Their Man — With Wallets OpenThe Los Angeles Times told the world on May 10 that Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) was under federal investigation. The probe was an extension of the “Duke” Cunningham bribery and corruption investigation, focusing on Lewis’ ties to the Copeland Lowery lobbying firm.
Days later, some of his closest friends — who have played key roles in the growing scandal — kicked in hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of dollars to Lewis’ campaign, federal records show.
Letitia White, a former Lewis staffer who became a Copeland Lowery lobbyist, gave $1,000 on May 15. The CEO of Trident Systems, Nicholas Karangelen, ponied up $1,000 too, on the same date. He’s also in the thick of the mess: he “co-owns” a house with White, is a Copeland Lowery client, has given thousands to Lewis in the past and received millions in government contracts through Lewis’ legislation. That house, by the way, is the listed HQ for a PAC run by Lewis’ stepdaughter.
The next day, a whopping $5,000 check landed from Bill Lowery, a principal in the now-dissolved Copeland Lowery lobbying firm, whose ties to Lewis are the subject of intense scrutiny by the FBI and Justice prosecutors. That one went to Lewis’ Future Leaders PAC. Now that’s what I call friendship.
(ed.note: This post has been revised.)
