Group wants investigation into Katherine Harris

The nonpartisan activist group Common Cause is asking the Justice Department to investigate whether U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris' request of a $10 million earmark for a defense contractor in exchange for personal favors and campaign contributions violated the law.

"We're filing the complaint today," Common Cause spokesperson Mary Boyle confirmed this morning.

The Justice Department has kept the scope of its investigation of the defense contractor, MZM Inc., under wraps, though it has already netted a California congressman for accepting favors and bribes in exchange for earmarks.

Common Cause is well-known for its activism for open government and accountability in Congress. Although nonpartisan, the group has on occasion been accused of having a liberal bias.

Seeking an earmark does not necessarily imply illegality. One reason for the growth of lobbyists in Washington is the increasing number of opportunities by members of Congress to secure federal dollars, though fine-print "earmarks" in legislation, for private interests and pet causes.
The Common Cause complaint centers on a dinner at an exclusive Georgetown restaurant in 2005 at which the defense contractor, Mitchell Wade, offered to hold a fundraiser for Harris' U.S. Senate campaign and picked up the $2,800 tab.

Wade admitted bribing former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California, who helped him obtain earmarks giving his company government business.

Wade wanted Harris, too, to seek a $10 million earmark in congressional spending legislation. That spring, Harris asked that the money be included in spending legislation.
The project was, however, never funded. Harris has said she made the request to bring jobs to her district, where MZM would have opened a new facility.

Harris has for weeks declined to address many questions surrounding her relationship with Wade and MZM, including two dinners they had, except for her assertion, in remarks to the Orlando Sentinel last month, which she had thought her campaign had reimbursed Wade for the 2005 dinner.

Former Harris campaign strategist Ed Rollins said he, too, had had concerns about the dinner when joining her campaign last year and learning of the large tab for the dinner.
Rollins said it was at that time he urged Harris to hire a lawyer, Ben Ginsburg.

Harris has denied any wrongdoing.

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