On the main page of the FR today, we linked to this USA Today major story focusing on the relationship between Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and a hedge fund named Cerberus, which raised substantial money for Lewis, and who has also benefitted from a major $1.6 billion dollar project.
Congressional Quarterly carried this response to the story from Congressman Lewis:
Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., today said neither he nor any members of his staff had discussed a defense funding allocation with representatives of a defense contractor or a hedge fund that hosted a fundraiser for Lewis’ leadership political action committee.
USA Today reported today that Cerberus, a hedge fund with a substantial interest in the defense contractor, raised $110,000 for Lewis at a New York fundraiser on July 7, 2003. The next day, the House passed the fiscal 2004 Defense spending bill, which included the $1.6 billion Navy Intranet project critical to the firm. Lewis at the time was chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.
Lewis said in a statement Thursday that he was unaware of any connection between Cerberus and the contract until he was informed of one by a USA Today reporter.
"It is absolutely and unequivocally false to suggest that any decision on funding for the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet was in any way based on a lobbyist’s request, or as a favor to someone who was donating campaign funds," Lewis said in the statement.