WASHINGTON, April 25 Court documents released this week revealed that U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla., misreported the cost of a trip to Scotland with lobbyist Jack Abramoff years ago.
While the Republican representative had estimated the cost of the 2003 trip to Scotland at $5,000 per person to Congress, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times said that documents released Tuesday showed Abramoff spent nearly $20,000 on each traveler.
The findings were revealed in court as former congressional aide Mark Zachares pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Abramoff is in prison after being convicted of defrauding his clients.
Feeney has maintained that he did not know Abramoff had paid for the four-day vacation.
While the congressman has not come under investigation regarding the matter, his office confirmed Tuesday that he had been contacted as part of the FBI's inquiry.
The Times said that two of the other men who accompanied Feeney on the trip were former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, and former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay.
DeLay is under investigation for improper fundraising, while Ney is in prison on Abramoff-related corruption charges.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
