Nevada campaign donor is indicted (lying about illegal donations to Harry Reid)

Source: Washington Post

Nevada lobbyist and lawyer Harvey Whittemore was indicted Wednesday on charges that he made unlawful campaign contributions to a member of Congress and lied about it to the FBI.

Justice Department officials, in the indictment, did not name the lawmaker who received the contributions. But law enforcement sources said it was Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). Reid has not been accused of wrongdoing or charged in the case.

“At no time did Senator Reid have any knowledge that Mr. Whittemore was engaging in these alleged unlawful contributions to Senator Reid or any elected official,” said Kristen Orthman, a spokeswoman for Reid.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer said that the violation of campaign finance laws “jeopardizes the integrity of our elections.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nevada-campaign-donor-is-indicted/2012/06/06/gJQAMwvtJV_story.html