(Don) Young Shells Out for Lawyers

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Don Young spent more than $262,137 from his campaign account to pay legal bills this year, according to his most recent filing with the Federal Election Commission.

Between March 10 and June 15, Young's congressional fundraising committee, Alaskans for Don Young, paid two Washington law firms to advise him. Young's report shows his campaign spent $242,306 with Akin, Gump, Strauss and Hauer, and another $19,831 went to Tobin, O'Connor, Ewing and Richard.

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Young hired the legal team about the time that media in Milwaukee reported that the U.S. attorney's office there was looking into campaign contributions by businessman Dennis Troha. Troha reportedly benefited from new truck-hauling rules that Young helped pass in 2005 as part of a major transportation-spending bill. Young, who received about $20,000 in campaign contributions from Troha, his family members and associates, has said he does not recall ever meeting the man. Nor did he know Troha would benefit from new rules Young favored, he said.

Troha was indicted last month on charges of using family members to illegally funnel more than $100,000 in campaign contributions to Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle and the state's Democratic Party.

Young also has been under scrutiny for sponsoring a $10 million road project that helped Florida real estate developer Daniel Aronoff, just days after Aronoff helped raise $40,000 for Young's re-election. A former aide to Young on the transportation committee, Mark Zachares, pleaded guilty in the Jack Abramoff bribery scandal.

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