Text 20617, 81 rader
Skriven 2006-06-01 05:14:00 av Jeff Binkley (1:226/600)
Ärende: Harry gets caught
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http://apnews.myway.com/article/20060601/D8HV5JEG0.html

Reid Says He Won't Accept Free Tickets
 
 
May 31, 11:05 PM (ET)

By JOHN SOLOMON
 

WASHINGTON (AP) - Reversing course, Senate Democratic leader Harry 
Reid's office acknowledged Wednesday night he misstated the ethics rules 
governing his acceptance of free boxing tickets and has decided to avoid 
taking such gifts in the future.

The Nevada senator still believes it was "entirely permissible" for him 
to accept ringside seats for three professional boxing matches in 2004 
and 2005 from the Nevada Athletic Commission but has nonetheless decided 
to avoid doing so in the future, his office said.

"In light of questions that have been raised about the practice, Senator 
Reid will not accept these kinds of credentials in the future in order 
to avoid even the faintest appearance of impropriety," spokesman Jim 
Manley said.

The announcement came after The Associated Press confronted Reid's 
office early Wednesday with conclusions from several ethics experts that 
the Senate leader misstated congressional ethics rules in trying to 
defend his actions.

The AP reported Monday that Reid accepted the free seats from the Nevada 
commission as it was trying to influence his support for legislation to 
create a federal boxing commission. The state agency feared the 
legislation would usurp its authority to regulate fights and wanted to 
convince Reid there was no need for a federal body.

Reid voted to set up a federal commission, but Congress never enacted 
the legislation.

Reid told Las Vegas reporters on Tuesday he would continue to accept 
such tickets and did not believe he did anything wrong even though 
fellow Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who joined him for one of the fights, 
decided to reimburse $1,400 for his seat.

Reid said he believed it was appropriate to accept the free tickets 
because the gifts were from his home state and that McCain, R-Ariz., had 
to reimburse because he was from out of state.

Senate ethics rules generally allow senators to take gifts from any 
state, not just their home state. But they specifically warn against 
taking normally permissible gifts if the giver may be trying to 
influence official action.
 
Manley said Wednesday night that Reid "misspoke when he said the rule 
applies only to senators who represent the state agency." But he added 
he believes Reid still could ethically accept the tickets.

"It was therefore entirely permissible for Senator Reid - a senator from 
Nevada - to have attended a major Nevada sporting event as a guest of 
Nevada officials," Manley said.

Several ethics experts disagreed, criticizing Reid's rationale that he 
felt obligated to take the tickets to ensure boxing was being conducted 
properly in his home state.

"He is no more obligated to go to boxing matches than he is to a Celine 
Dion concert in Vegas," said Melanie Sloan, a former Justice Department 
prosecutor and head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in 
Washington.

Fred Wertheimer, a longtime ethics watchdog, agreed.

"The test under congressional ethics rules in these circumstances is not 
what state a member is from but whether the gift creates the appearance 
that the gift is motivated by a desire to influence the member or gain 
favorable official action," Wertheimer said. "If the gift creates such 
an appearance, it should not be accepted."


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