Sweeney, J Rep

=omg brooks bros --> vlad<div><a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/09/kremlin-controlled-russian-bank-hires-trump-insider-as-a-lobbyist/">https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2019/09/kremlin-controlled-russian-bank-hires-trump-insider-as-a-lobbyist/</a>with Congress mulling legislation to slap new sanctions on Russia for its attack on the 2016 American election, an important Russian bank connected to Vladimir Putin’s government has turned for help to a well-positioned lobbyist in Washington: a Trump insider and former Republican House member named John Sweeney. In August Sweeney <a href="https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6713-Exhibit-AB-20190830-1.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">signed</a> a whopping contract to lobby on behalf of this bank to stave off sanctions from the US government. Sweeney, who formerly represented district near Albany, filed paperwork late last month with the Justice Department’s Foreign Agents Registration Act unit to represent Vnesheconombank, known as VEB, a Kremlin-controlled investment bank. The bank’s chair, Igor Shuvalov, was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-veb-shuvalov/russias-putin-appoints-shuvalov-head-of-state-development-bank-veb-idUSKCN1IP1TY" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">appointed</a> last year by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who gave him <a href="http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/60205" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">orders</a> to increase funding of national development projects.The filing says that Sweeney will “engage in meetings and other communications with U.S. government officials regarding potential new sanctions legislation…that could affect” the bank.<div class="incontent-promo" id="incontent_promo_1" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: rgb(242, 243, 239); position: relative; left: -358.156px; height: auto; width: 100vw; margin-bottom: 1rem; clear: both;"><section id="mj-incontent-ad-widget-4" class="widget mj-incontent-ad-widget" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="incontent-ad-container" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 1300px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;" /></section></div>The Obama administration <a href="https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2572.aspx" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">sanctioned</a> the bank in 2014 as part of the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Crimea. Shuvalov, along with all members of the bank’s supervisory board, was also included on a January 2018 Treasury Department <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/370313106/2018-01-29-Treasury-Caatsa-241-Final#from_embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">report</a> listing officials closely affiliated with the Russian government. That report, which Congress required Treasury to issue, did not lead to sanctions against those individuals. But the bank could be hurt by pending legislation. Election security legislation <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/senators-rubio-van-hollen-to-introduce-sanctions-to-deter-new-russian-election-interference" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">proposed</a> by Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) would <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2019/07/31/white-case-will-represent-state-owned-russian-bank-701840" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">sanction</a> VEB and other Russian banks. Sanctions legislation proposed by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), which would bar US firms and citizens from investing in Russian energy projects or participating in ventures that involve Russian government debt, which could harm the country’s ability to finance infrastructure projects. That bill and a separate measure <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-15/house-democrats-restart-russia-sanctions-debate-with-draft-bill" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">proposed</a> in the House aim at punishing Russia for interfering in the 2016 election.VEB also had a role in the Trump-Russia scandal. A December 13, 2016 meeting between Shuvalov’s predecessor as the bank’s chairman, Sergey Gorkov, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, was scrutinized as part of former Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Disclosure of <a href="https://themoscowproject.org/dispatch/breaking-down-the-mueller-report-jared-kushners-transition-meetings-with-russian-individuals/" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">meeting</a> drew <a href="https://slate.com/business/2017/04/kushner-s-666-5th-ave-is-a-perfect-metaphor-of-the-trump-administration-s-conflicts-of-interest.html" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">suspicion</a> that Kushner hoped the bank would bailout a debt-laden building, 666 Fifth Avenue, owned by his family. The exact purpose of the meeting remains unclear. VEB claims the meeting was purely business-oriented, related to Kushner’s real estate work. Kushner <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/18/us/politics/mueller-report-document.html#g-page-169" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">told</a> Mueller’s office it was diplomatic.Sweeney was hired to work for Vnesheconombank by the International Centre for Legal Protection, a Moscow entity formed to help Russia and Russian entities enmeshed in complex international legal disputes. The onetime House member will receive $62,500 per month for 12 months for the work, according a <a href="https://efile.fara.gov/docs/6713-Exhibit-AB-20190830-1.pdf" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">contract</a> he filed with Justice Department.Reached by phone Thursday, Sweeney said he would call back, but he did not. He did not respond to a voicemail or questions sent by text message.Sweeney represented an upstate New York district from 1999 through 2006, when he was defeated for reelection by Kirsten Gillibrand, now the junior senator from New York. In the final weeks of the 2006 race, Sweeney faced domestic abuse <a href="https://www.politico.com/blogs/politico-now/2007/07/sweeneys-wife-claims-abuse-002299" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">allegations</a> (claims that he has denied). In the years that followed, Sweeney twice pleaded guilty to drunk driving charges. Sweeney <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Redemption-of-John-Sweeney-a-work-in-progress-12713399.php" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">stopped</a> drinking and recently <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Four-term-Congressman-John-Sweeney-battling-cancer-14287371.php" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">announced </a>10 years of sobriety. He also weathered a federal grand jury investigation<del style="box-sizing: inherit;">, </del>into whether he took official acts while in office to help three clients of an Albany lobbying firm in exchange for “a stream of financial benefits,” <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Records-detail-FBI-s-interest-in-Sweeney-and-2673467.php" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">according</a> to FBI records cited by the Albany Times Union. He was never charged in that case, which lasted from 2006 until at least 2008.An early Trump backer, Sweeney led Trump’s successful primary campaign in New York. Sweeney <a href="https://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-local/article/Ex-Congressman-Sweeney-of-Clifton-Park-vets-Trump-10852089.php" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">served</a> on Trump’s presidential transition team, helping to vet potential senior national security and intelligence officials, ambassadors, and political appointees for multiple agencies.Sweeney <a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/03/trump-lobbying-ban-transition-237850" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">began</a> lobbying the White House soon after Trump took office. In 2017 and 2018 he worked on <a href="https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=F70731EF-C005-47B9-851C-00B68B7BACD6&filingTypeID=1" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">behalf</a> of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a project partly owned by Russia’s state-run gas giant, Gazprom.  Sweeney’s work, for which he reported receiving $470,000 in lobbying fees, included opposing “potential financial sanctions affecting the project.” Lobbying disclosure forms he <a href="https://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&filingID=21338A7F-5EF7-480D-8DC5-2979B61503BA&filingTypeID=78" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">filed</a> with Congress say he focused on influencing the “Executive Office of the President.”Sweeney has also <a href="https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/politico-influence/2017/08/04/chamber-hill-co-founder-departs-to-launch-new-firm-221715" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">represented</a> Ihor Kolomoisky, a politically <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-president-kolomoisky/ukraine-president-meets-tycoon-kolomoisky-amid-concerns-over-their-business-ties-idUSKCN1VV2K5" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">influential</a> Ukrainian tycoon who previously controlled a Ukrainian bank <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-summit-kolomoisky/with-zelenskiy-in-charge-ukraine-tycoon-kolomoisky-sees-amicable-solution-on-privatbank-idUSKCN1VY1P8" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">seized</a> by that country’s government in 2016 due to purported lack of capital and financial improprieties. In a lawsuit <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraines-privatbank-sues-its-former-owners-11558645915" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">filed</a> in May, the bank sued Kolomoisky and another former owner, alleging that the men forced it to issue loans to entities they controlled and then laundered the proceeds through shell companies that bought up commercial real estate in the United States. The Daily Beast <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/billionaire-ukrainian-oligarch-ihor-kolomoisky-under-investigation-by-fbi" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">reported</a> in April that the FBI is investigating Kolomoisky, who has assets in the United States, for alleged money laundering and other crimes. (Kolomoisky has denied the allegations.)<div class="incontent-promo" id="incontent_promo_3" style="box-sizing: inherit; background: rgb(242, 243, 239); position: relative; left: -358.156px; height: auto; width: 100vw; margin-bottom: 1rem; clear: both;"><section id="mj-incontent-ad-widget-11" class="widget mj-incontent-ad-widget" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><div class="incontent-ad-container" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 1300px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px;" /></section></div>Sweeney is among a small group of Trump insiders who have become lobbyists for Russian firms and related interests. Bryan Lanza, a former Trump campaign and transition aide, is now a lobbyist at Mercury Public Affairs, where he has represented  the EN+ Group, an aluminum company founded by Oleg Deripaska, an oligarch close to Putin. Lanza and Mercury helped the company <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm592" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">win</a> relief from US sanctions. Brian Ballard, who formerly lobbied for Trump in Florida and has since built a thriving Washington practice, has represented David Yakobashvili, a Russian oligarch with interests in gas and the food industry. Yakobashvili <a href="http://valdaiclub.com/events/announcements/joint-conference-of-the-valdai-discussion-club-and-the-russian-union-of-industrialists/" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">identifies</a> himself as president of the Russian–American Council for Business Cooperation, a group that <a href="https://rusenergyweek.com/en/news/rdif-ceo-kirill-dmitriev-and-russian-american-council-for-business-cooperation-president-david-yakob/" style="box-sizing: inherit; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; background-position: 0px 90%; background-image: url("/wp-content/themes/motherjones/css/../img/orange-border.png"); background-repeat: repeat-x; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 0px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 0px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px -1px 0px, rgb(255, 255, 255) -1px 1px 0px;">says</a> it was created at Putin’s behest to boost trade between the countries.<a href="https://russiabusinesstoday.com/economy/russias-state-run-bank-veb-hires-trump-insider-to-help-avoid-sanctions/">https://russiabusinesstoday.com/economy/russias-state-run-bank-veb-hires-trump-insider-to-help-avoid-sanctions/</a>
9/14<a href="https://xn--90ab5f.xn--p1ai/en/" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">Vnesheconombank</a>, or VEB, Russia’s state-controlled development institute facing potential U.S. sanctions, has hired a well-positioned lobbyist in Washington – Trump insider and former Republican House member named John Sweeney, <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-influence/2019/09/13/sweeney-will-lobby-for-russian-bank-742346" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">Politico </a>reports.With Congress mulling legislation to slap new sanctions on Russia for its attack on the 2016 American election, Sweeney signed a whopping contract in August to lobby on behalf of the Russian bank to stave off sanctions from the U.S. government. The lobbyist, who formerly represented a district near Albany, filed paperwork late last month with the Justice Department’s Foreign Agents Registration Act unit to represent Vnesheconombank.<div class="code-block code-block-2" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 8px auto; text-align: center; clear: both;">The filing says that Sweeney will “engage in meetings and other communications with U.S. government officials regarding potential new sanctions legislation…that could affect” the bank.VEB’s chair, Igor Shuvalov, a former deputy minister in the Russian government, was appointed last year by President Vladimir Putin, who gave him orders to increase funding of national development projects.<div class="code-block code-block-1" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 8px auto; text-align: center; clear: both;">The Obama administration sanctioned VEB in 2014 as part of the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Crimea.Shuvalov, along with all members of the bank’s supervisory board, was also included on a January 2018 Treasury Department <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/370313106/2018-01-29-Treasury-Caatsa-241-Final#from_embed" style="box-sizing: border-box; background-color: transparent; text-decoration-line: none;">report </a>listing officials closely affiliated with the Russian government. That report, which Congress required Treasury to issue, did not lead to sanctions against those individuals. But the bank could be hurt by pending legislation.Sweeney will do legal work for VEB, which “may include potential meetings with U.S. government officials regarding potential new sanctions legislation (not existing sanctions) that could affect” the bank, according to a copy of the contract filed with the Justice Department. The lucrative contract lasts a year and is worth $62,500 — which adds up to $750,000 for the whole year.Sweeney already has experience lobbying for Russian interests. Sweeney, who worked on President Donald Trump’s transition team, has lobbied since 2017 for <a href="https://www.nord-stream2.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Nord Stream 2 AG</a>, the company behind a natural gas pipeline under construction between Germany and Russia. He’s lobbied the White House and the State Department on Nord Stream’s behalf, according to disclosure filings. Nord Stream is controlled by <a href="https://www.gazprom.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">Gazprom</a>, which is in turn partially owned by the Russian government.</div></div></div><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></div>===A substantial contingent of young

Republican Capitol Hill aides, along

with such congressmen as John Sweeney,

of New York, who had travelled to

Miami, joined in the protest. Thanks to

this delegation, the events at the Clark

center have come to be known as the

“Brooks Brothers riot,”=stone hell
The most visible top level figure on the ground wasn’t Roger Stone, who is never mentioned in contemporary reports of the halting of the Miami-Dade count, but John Sweeney, a Republican representative from New York. When the vote counters decided to move to a room closer to the voting machines so as to speed up the count, Sweeney gave the order, “Shut it down,” according to Gigot, who was in the same room as Sweeney when the order was given. After that, the Brooks Brothers mob pounded the doors and windows of the tally room. “Stop the count. Stop the fraud.” Sweeney was giving these orders, according to eyewitnesses, in a room in the same building where the vote tally was taking place. Stone’s account is also disputed by Brad Blakeman. “I was the guy in charge of the trailer, and I coördinated the Brooks Brothers riot,” says Blakeman in the Toobin piece. “Roger did not have a role that I know of. His wife may have been on the radio, but I never saw or heard from him.” Stone scoffs at such doubts<a name="bkfrftnote87" style="text-decoration: underline;" /><a href="http://italkyoubored.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/roger-stone-pretty-reckless-is-going-straight-to-hell-part-four/#ftnote87" sl-processed="1">87</a>.We might see who the Bush Administration considered most valuable for their effort in Florida in 2000. Sweeney would get the nick “Congressman Kickass” from the chief executive, and would be given say over EPA, HUD, and Labor appointments, as well as his pick of the plum committee he wished to sit on, picking Appropriations over Ways & Means<a name="bkfrftnote88" style="text-decoration: underline;" /><a href="http://italkyoubored.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/roger-stone-pretty-reckless-is-going-straight-to-hell-part-four/#ftnote88" sl-processed="1">88</a>. Sweeney would serve several terms in Congress before once again achieving public visibility by smashing his car into an electrical pole in 2006. He said it was because he was busy fiddling with the car’s CD player. The police did not give him a sobriety test. <a href="http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/politics/columns/citypolitic/4473/" sl-processed="1">“Pol Versus Pole,”</a> Michael Tomasky would waggishly report. Later in the year, police would get a 911 call from the Sweeney house. “Female caller stating her husband is knocking her around the house,” the dispatcher wrote. “Then she stated `Here it comes, are you ready?’ and disconnected the call.” Sweeney’s wife, Gayle, would say that he grabbed her around the neck and pushed her around the house. John Sweeney had scratches on his face. Sweeney would lose his seat that year to Kristin Gillibrand. Days before the election, the Sweeneys would deny the reports of the 911 call. Gayle Sweeney would say “I did not need to be protected from John…there were no injuries to me.” John Sweeney would blame Kristin Gillibrand: “In her desire for power, she has tried to ruin my marriage, slander my family.” A year later, Gayle Sweeney would say her statement was coerced by advisers trying to save her husband’s campaign. She said that in the incident where she called 911, she had been pushed into a filing cabinet<a name="bkfrftnote89" style="text-decoration: underline;" /><a href="http://italkyoubored.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/roger-stone-pretty-reckless-is-going-straight-to-hell-part-four/#ftnote89" sl-processed="1">89</a>. In 2010, Sweeney would be jailed for thirty days over a DUI incident. In 2013, the FEC would file a warning letter asking why he’d failed to pay off his 2006 campaign debts, which totaled over $200 000 dollars<a name="bkfrftnote90" style="text-decoration: underline;" /><a href="http://italkyoubored.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/roger-stone-pretty-reckless-is-going-straight-to-hell-part-four/#ftnote90" sl-processed="1">90</a>. The day after his election loss in 2006, Sweeney appeared on the cover of Success magazine<a name="bkfrftnote91" style="text-decoration: underline;" /><a href="http://italkyoubored.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/roger-stone-pretty-reckless-is-going-straight-to-hell-part-four/#ftnote91" sl-processed="1">91</a>.wikiJohn E. Sweeney (born August 9, 1955) is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politician" title="Politician" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">politician</a> from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.state" title="U.S. state" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">U.S. state</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">New York</a>. A<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party(United_States)" title="Republican Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Republican</a>, he represented <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York%27s_20th_congressional_district" title="New York's 20th congressional district" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">New York's 20th congressional district</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">United States House of Representatives</a> from January 1999 to January 2007. He was defeated for reelection in November 2006 by Democrat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsten_Gillibrand" title="Kirsten Gillibrand" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Kirsten Gillibrand</a>.<div id="toc" class="toc" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); padding: 7px; display: inline-block; zoom: 1; line-height: 19.2px;"><div id="toctitle" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><h2 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border: none; display: inline;">Contents</h2>  [<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#" class="internal" id="togglelink" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">hide</a>] </div><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Biography" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1 Biography</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Early_life_and_education" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.1 Early life and education</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Political_career" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2 Political career</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Congressional_career" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2.1 Congressional career</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-4 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Election_to_the_U.S.House_of_Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2.1.1 Election to the U.S. House of Representatives</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Re-elections" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2.2 Re-elections</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Political_positions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2.3 Political positions</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Campaign_contributions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2.4 Campaign contributions</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#2006_re-election_campaign_loss" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.3 2006 re-election campaign loss</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Controversies" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2 Controversies</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Role_in_Florida_recount_in_2000" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2.1 Role in Florida recount in 2000</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-12" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Wife_as_fundraiser" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2.2 Wife as fundraiser</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Domestic_violence_report" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2.3 Domestic violence report</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#November_2007_DWI" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2.4 November 2007 DWI</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#April_2009_DWI_arrest" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2.5 April 2009 DWI arrest</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Ties_to_Allen_Stanford" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2.6 Ties to Allen Stanford</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-17" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Personal_life" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3 Personal life</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-18" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#Notes" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">4 Notes</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-19" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#External_links" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">5 External links</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 19.2px;">Biography<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=1&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Biography" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=1&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Biography" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h2><table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-style ambox-Prose" style="margin: 0px 78.8px 0px 52.95px; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 10px; border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(170, 170, 170) rgb(244, 196, 48); background-color: rgb(251, 251, 251); line-height: 19.2px;"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image" style="border: none; padding: 2px 0px 2px 0.5em; text-align: center;"><div style="width: 52px;"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f2/Edit-clear.svg/40px-Edit-clear.svg.png" width="40" height="40" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f2/Edit-clear.svg/60px-Edit-clear.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f2/Edit-clear.svg/80px-Edit-clear.svg.png 2x" style="border: none; vertical-align: middle;" /></div></td><td class="mbox-text" style="border: none; padding: 0.25em 0.5em; width: 364px;">This article is in a list format that may be better presented using <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Proseline" title="Wikipedia:Proseline" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none !important; padding: 0px !important;">prose</a>. You can help by converting this article to prose, if<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Embedded_list" title="Wikipedia:Embedded list" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none !important; padding: 0px !important;">appropriate</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Editing" title="Help:Editing" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none !important; padding: 0px !important;">Editing help</a> is available. (January 2009)</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Early life and education<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=2&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Early life and education" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=2&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Early life and education" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>Sweeney was born in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy,New_York" title="Troy, New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Troy, New York</a>. He graduated from Troy's Lansingburgh High School in 1973. He received an associate's degree from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_Valley_Community_College" title="Hudson Valley Community College" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Hudson Valley Community College</a> in 1978 and a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sage_College_of_Albany" title="Sage College of Albany" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Sage College of Albany</a> in 1981. In 1991, he received a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_doctorate" title="Juris doctorate" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">J.D.</a> from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_New_England_College" title="Western New England College" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Western New England College</a> School of Law.<h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Political career<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=3&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Political career" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=3&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Political career" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>Sweeney was the Executive Director & Chief Counsel of the New York Republican Party from 1992 to 1995, and New York State Commissioner of Labor under Governor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Pataki" title="George Pataki" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">George Pataki</a> from 1995 to 1997. He was "Rensselaer County's one-time STOP-DWI coordinator."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2009_DWI-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a><h4 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Congressional career<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=4&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Congressional career" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=4&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Congressional career" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h4><h5 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Election to the U.S. House of Representatives<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=5&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Election to the U.S. House of Representatives" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=5&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Election to the U.S. House of Representatives" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h5>Sweeney was elected to the House in 1998, winning with 55 percent of the vote over Democrat Jean Bordewich. The seat became open when veteran Republican Representative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_B.H.Solomon" title="Gerald B. H. Solomon" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Gerald B. H. Solomon</a> retired. Solomon endorsed Sweeney as his successor and campaigned for him.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a>Prior to the election, Sweeney moved from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cohoes,New_York" title="Cohoes, New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Cohoes</a>, which is outside the district, to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speigletown,New_York" title="Speigletown, New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Speigletown</a>, to run for the seat.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a> He later moved to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton_Park,New_York" title="Clifton Park, New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Clifton Park</a>.<h4 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Re-elections<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=6&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Re-elections" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=6&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Re-elections" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h4>In 2000, Sweeney defeated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.Democratic_Party" title="U.S. Democratic Party" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Democrat</a> Kenneth McCallion, receiving 68 percent of the vote. In 2002, he defeated Frank Stoppenbach, getting 73 percent of the vote. In 2004, he defeated Doris F. Kelly, receiving 66 percent of the vote.<h4 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Political positions<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=7&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Political positions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=7&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Political positions" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h4>In 2006, Sweeney was classified as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Conservative" title="Libertarian Conservative" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Libertarian Conservative</a> by the non-partisan group ontheissues.org.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-OnTheIssues-4" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a>In late 2006, he attempted to distance himself from his record of supporting the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Bush_administration" title="George W. Bush administration" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Bush Administration</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-RaceBush-5" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[5]</a> He votes in support of the positions of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Coalition_of_America" title="Christian Coalition of America" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Christian Coalition</a> 69 percent of the time.Sweeney opposed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_control" title="Gun control" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">gun control</a>. He voted for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_prayer" title="School prayer" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">prayer in public schools</a> on numerous occasions; the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Education_Association" title="National Education Association" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">National Education Association</a> gives him an 18% approval rating.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-OnTheIssues-4" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a>Sweeney sponsored legislations that would create mandatory <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_testing" title="Drug testing" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">drug testing</a> for all federal employees, and legislations that would ban all research pertaining to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalization" title="Legalization" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">legalization</a> of drugs.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-6" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[6]</a> He consistently voted to use federal agents to arrest, prosecute, and imprison <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_marijuana" title="Medical marijuana" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">medical marijuana</a> patients in states where voters or legislators have extended protections to patients.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-MMJ-7" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[7]</a>Sweeney supported human <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryonic_stem_cell_research" title="Embryonic stem cell research" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">embryonic stem cell research</a>. He voted for allowing federal funding for international <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion" title="Abortion" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">abortion</a> groups, but has also voted against similar funding.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-HR4691-8" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[8]</a>Sweeney voted for making it a federal crime to transport minors across state lines for an abortion. His record is 90% <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-abortion" title="Anti-abortion" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">anti-abortion</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-OnTheIssues-4" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a>He opposed the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Marriage_Amendment" title="Federal Marriage Amendment" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Federal Marriage Amendment</a>, but supported a ban on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_adoption_in_the_United_States" title="LGBT adoption in the United States" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">adoptions by gays</a> or other individuals who are not related by blood or marriage (HR 2587).On economic matters, Sweeney supported <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_trade" title="Free trade" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">free trade</a> and tax cuts, as well as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_security" title="Social security" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">social security</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatization" title="Privatization" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">privatization</a>.Sweeney opposed environmental protections and was given a "D" grade by EANY for opposing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE" title="GE" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">GE</a> dredging of PCB aka <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl" title="Polychlorinated biphenyl" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Polychlorinated biphenyl</a> from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hudson_River" title="Hudson River" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Hudson River</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-OnTheIssues-4" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-EANYReport1-9" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[9]</a>In 2001, Sweeney voted against a bill that would require increasing average <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_efficiency" title="Fuel efficiency" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">fuel efficiency</a> standards and offer incentives for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_fuel" title="Alternative fuel" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">alternative fuel</a>vehicles. (Bill HR 4).Sweeney received an "F" on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_Major_Institute" title="Drum Major Institute" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Drum Major Institute</a>'s 2005 <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.drummajorinstitute.com/congress/drum-major-voting-summary.php?name=Sweeney&state=NY&database=house" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAVklEQVR4Xn3PgQkAMQhDUXfqTu7kTtkpd5RA8AInfArtQ2iRXFWT2QedAfttj2FsPIOE1eCOlEuoWWjgzYaB/IkeGOrxXhqB+uA9Bfcm0lAZuh+YIeAD+cAqSz4kCMUAAAAASUVORK5CYII="); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Congressional Scorecard</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_class" title="Middle class" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">middle class</a> issues.<h4 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Campaign contributions<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=8&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Campaign contributions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=8&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Campaign contributions" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h4>According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMILY%27s_List" title="EMILY's List" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">EMILY's List</a>, Sweeney has taken more campaign contributions from special interests than any other of New York's 29 Representatives.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-EMILY-10" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[10]</a>Sweeney was also the seventh largest recipient of contributions from lobbyists out of all 435 House representatives in the 2006 election cycle.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-11" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[11]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">2006 re-election campaign loss<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=9&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: 2006 re-election campaign loss" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=9&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: 2006 re-election campaign loss" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3><div class="rellink relarticle mainarticle" style="font-style: italic; padding-left: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; line-height: 19.2px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_20th_congressional_district_election,2006" title="New York 20th congressional district election, 2006" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">New York 20th congressional district election, 2006</a></div>In August 2006, Sweeney's allies filed successfully against signatures on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_Party(United_States)" title="Libertarian Party (United States)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Libertarian</a> opponent Eric Sundwall's ballot petitions, resulting in Sundwall's name being removed from the general election ballot.Sweeney lost the general election on November 7, 2006 to Democrat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsten_Gillibrand" title="Kirsten Gillibrand" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Kirsten Gillibrand</a> with 47% of the vote.<h2 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 19.2px;">Controversies<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=10&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Controversies" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=10&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Controversies" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h2>In September 2006, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washington" title="Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</a> (CREW) released its second annual report on members of Congress with ethics issues, titled "Beyond DeLay: The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress (and five to watch)". Sweeney was one of the 20. The organization said "His ethics issues stem from a ski trip to New York, the exchange of legislative assistance for campaign contributions and the hiring of his wife as a campaign fundraiser."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-12" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[12]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Role in Florida recount in 2000<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=11&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Role in Florida recount in 2000" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=11&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Role in Florida recount in 2000" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>During the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.presidential_election,2000" title="U.S. presidential election, 2000" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2000 election</a>, Sweeney allegedly helped earn his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_nicknames_used_by_George_W.Bush" title="List of nicknames used by George W. Bush" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">nickname from President Bush</a>, "Congressman Kickass," by organizing the so-called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Brothers_riot" title="Brooks Brothers riot" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Brooks Brothers riot</a> that disrupted the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida" title="Florida" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Florida</a> elections commissioners.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-13" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[13]</a> He was said to have led the charge on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_recount" title="Florida recount" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">third recount</a> in<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami" title="Miami" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Miami</a>, flying in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing" title="Astroturfing" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">astroturfing</a> GOP operatives and instructing them to "shut it down!" by raising a clamor and pounding on the election commission's doors.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-NYM-14" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[14]</a> Sweeney used the words "thugs" to describe the Florida officials involved in the recount. He defended his actions in connection with the incident as "completely and absolutely legitimate" and declared that his intent was only to stop the canvassing board from withdrawing its activities from public view.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-15" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[15]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Wife as fundraiser<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=12&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Wife as fundraiser" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=12&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Wife as fundraiser" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>On April 11, 2003, Sweeney began paying a company called Creative Consulting for fund-raising. The company had been founded a day earlier by Gaia "Gayle" Ford. Between April 2003 and December 2003, Sweeney's campaign paid $42,570 to the firm. Sweeney proposed to Ford in September 2003<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-16" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[16]</a> and married her in 2004.Sweeney spokeswoman Melissa Carlson said the congressman considers his wife "his best representative in the district when he's fund-raising." She said Ford, who had no previous fund-raising experience, receives a 10 percent commission on whatever she raises. Between January 2005 and April 2006, Ford was paid $30,879. Sweeney also has had a fundraising consultant on monthly retainer since June 2004, who is paid $8,583 a month.Ford also works for Powers & Company, the lobbying firm of former state GOP Chairman <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Powers(politician)" title="William Powers (politician)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">William Powers</a>, Sweeney's longtime political ally and onetime boss.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-17" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[17]</a>The Winter Challenge was started in 1998 by Sweeney's House predecessor, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_B.H.Solomon" title="Gerald B.H. Solomon" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Gerald Solomon</a>, with the declared purpose of showcasing the Olympic facilities at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Placid,New_York" title="Lake Placid, New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Lake Placid, New York</a> to congressmen and their staffers in hopes of getting federal funds; Sweeney has hosted the annual event since 1999.In January 2006, Sweeney, his wife, and about 60 other people spent a four-day weekend at the facilities, competing against each other in skating, downhill skiing and bobsledding events. The group included Representative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sessions" title="Pete Sessions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Pete Sessions</a> (R-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas" title="Texas" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">TX</a>), a close friend of Sweeney<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-18" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[18]</a> and his wife; and aides to U.S. Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton" title="Hillary Clinton" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Hillary Clinton</a> (D-NY), Senator <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid" title="Harry Reid" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Harry Reid</a> (D-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevada" title="Nevada" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">NV</a>), Representative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Kuhl" title="Randy Kuhl" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Randy Kuhl</a> (R-NY), and Representative<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Stupak" title="Bart Stupak" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Bart Stupak</a> (D-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan" title="Michigan" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">MI</a>).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterFirst-19" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[19]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterWho-20" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[20]</a> The weekend cost the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Regional_Development_Authority" title="Olympic Regional Development Authority" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Olympic Regional Development Authority</a> (ORDA) $27,500, plus in-kind services it provided and the costs of operating the Olympic venues for the competition (exact figures for the latter two were unavailable).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PressRepub-21" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[21]</a> ORDA is a part of the New York State government.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-TheHill-22" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[22]</a>In the fall of 2005, the House ethics panel told Sweeney in a letter that he should be careful to let the Olympics groups invite guests to avoid the appearance of an endorsement by the House.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterFirst-19" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[19]</a> "Once the ORDA and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.Olympic_Committee" title="U.S. Olympic Committee" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">U.S. Olympic Committee</a> — without your involvement — have issued an initial invitation to House members and staff to take part in the trip, you may send a follow-up to that invitation", the ethics panel, known formally as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, wrote to Sweeney.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-TheHill-22" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[22]</a>Invitations to the event officially come from ORDA and the U.S. Olympic Committee, a nonprofit group chartered by Congress. ORDA says the impetus for the event comes from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic Committee said it's really Sweeney's event.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterFirst-19" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[19]</a> Three committees of the NY State Assembly have launched investigations of the Challenge, focusing on whether public money was put to good use. ORDA President Ted Blazer, speaking at one such hearing, said Sweeney's office helped assemble lists of possible invitees to the event.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-TheHill-22" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[22]</a>Documents show that at least eight members of Congress, all Republicans, were also invited to attend the 2006 event but declined.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-TheHill-22" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[22]</a>The official invitation for the event read: "While this trip has proven itself to be an enjoyable one for delegation members in the past, it is, nevertheless, an official trip authorized by the House and Senate Ethics Committees . . . intended to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress and Congressional staff to inspect and evaluate the manner in which federal funds have been used to strengthen the area's tourism industry."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterFirst-19" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[19]</a>Despite the House ethics rule requiring all travel paid by others to relate to members' official duties, and the ethic panel's letter that said that recreational activities must be "merely incidental to the trip", Sweeney has said that the panel said "it's perfectly appropriate for me to promote the event."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-TheHill-22" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[22]</a>The group attending the event included at least 15 registered lobbyists, including Pete Card, a former staffer of Sweeney's and the brother of former White House Chief of Staff <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Card" title="Andrew Card" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Andrew Card</a>, and Lisi Kaufman, a lobbyist for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Technologies_Corporation" title="United Technologies Corporation" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">United Technologies Corporation</a>, the sister of Andrew and Pete.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterFirst-19" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[19]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterWho-20" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[20]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-BlogTUNewsJuly-23" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[23]</a> In his request to the House ethics committee, Sweeney did not ask about lobbyists.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-BlogTUORDA-24" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[24]</a> A spokesman for ORDA said he does not know why the lobbyists were invited.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStandardWinterWho-20" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[20]</a>Seven of the lobbyists had contributed a total of $12,400 to Sweeney's campaign in 2005.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-PostStarContrib-25" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[25]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Domestic violence report<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=13&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Domestic violence report" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=13&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Domestic violence report" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>On October 31, 2006, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_Times_Union" title="Albany Times Union" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Albany Times Union</a> reported that it had obtained a document stating that "[t]he wife of U.S. Rep. John Sweeney called police last December to complain her husband was 'knocking her around' during a late-night argument at the couple's home." The responding officers filed a <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.timesunion.com/capitol/content/incident1031.pdf" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Icons-mini-file_acrobat.gif"); padding-right: 18px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">domestic incident report</a>. The report states that Sweeney grabbed his wife "by the neck" and pushed her around the house.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-26" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[26]</a>On November 2, 2006, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_Times_Union" title="Albany Times Union" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Albany Times Union</a> reported that on October 31, John and Gaia Sweeney said they would give the New York State Police permission to release a report about the incident. They said that the report was inaccurate but have not disputed its contents.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-27" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[27]</a> On November 17, 2006, the Times Union reported that there were two versions of the domestic violence report that had been prepared by the state police, one that was sent to them, doctored and lacking details, and the original report.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-28" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[28]</a>On July 22, 2007, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany_Times_Union" title="Albany Times Union" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Albany Times Union</a> reported that Gaia Sweeney, who was contesting a divorce action by her husband, said that he was often verbally abusive and at times physically abused her during their marriage. She also said that a statement she made on the eve of last fall's election, denying marital abuse, was "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coercion" title="Coercion" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">coerced</a>". Sweeney denied that he had been abusive; he had recently obtained a judicial order of protection against his wife.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-29" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[29]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">November 2007 DWI<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=14&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: November 2007 DWI" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=14&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: November 2007 DWI" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>Sweeney was charged with aggravated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DWI" title="DWI" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">DWI</a> (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs) when he was arrested by New York State Police at 1:19 a.m. on November 11, 2007. The arrest occurred on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adirondack_Northway#Adirondack_Northway" title="Adirondack Northway" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Adirondack Northway</a>, a stretch of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_87" title="Interstate 87" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Interstate 87</a> that runs between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany,New_York" title="Albany, New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Albany</a>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacolle,Quebec" title="Lacolle, Quebec" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Lacolle</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec" title="Quebec" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Quebec</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Canada</a>. A law enforcement source said Sweeney's car had been swerving and that a 24-year-old woman was seated partially on his lap when spotted by a state trooper.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-NDN-DWI-30" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[30]</a> The police reported "he had a woman on his lap when he was pulled over."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2009_DWI-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2007_DWI-31" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[31]</a>Sweeney's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_alcohol_content" title="Blood alcohol content" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">blood alcohol content</a> registered at .18 percent, more than double the legal limit.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2007_DWI-31" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[31]</a>Sweeney was also former STOP-DWI coordinator in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rensselaer_County" title="Rensselaer County" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Rensselaer County</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">New York</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2009_DWI-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a> Sweeney issued this statement later that day: "I regret the occurrence. I deeply apologize to my family and friends. I take full responsibility and I am hoping to work for a fair resolution."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-NDN-DWI-30" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[30]</a>On November 14, 2007, Sweeney pleaded guilty to drunk driving, after his attorney vocally and publicly denied he was even drinking that evening. Sweeney paid a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US$" title="US$" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">US$</a>1,000 fine, but did not have to spend any time in jail. He had his license suspended for six months and had to attend a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victimology#Victim_of_a_crime" title="Victimology" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">victim impact panel</a> for drunken drivers.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-32" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[32]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">April 2009 DWI arrest<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=15&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: April 2009 DWI arrest" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=15&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: April 2009 DWI arrest" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>Early on the morning of April 5, 2009, Sweeney was pulled over by state police for speeding.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2009_DWI-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a> He refused a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breathalyzer" title="Breathalyzer" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">breathalyzer</a> test ordered by the officer, and according to a newspaper report, "Sweeney allegedly told the officers he would not pass the sobriety test, adding he was in 'big trouble.'"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2009_DWI-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a> He was charged with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felony" title="Felony" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">felony</a> DWI, since Sweeney has had a prior DWI conviction within the past 10 years; thus the current charge is a felony<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2009_DWI-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a> On August 14, 2009 a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_jury" title="Grand jury" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">grand jury</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indictment" title="Indictment" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">indicted</a> Sweeney on felony charges. Sweeney gets jail time for DWI. As part of his punishment, Sweeney will have to wear a device 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that detects alcohol. He must also perform 300 hours of community service in the form of pro bono legal work and pay a $1,000 fine, said Franklin County District Attorney Derek Champagne, who handled the case as a special prosecutor. Sweeney will also serve three years of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probation" title="Probation" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">probation</a>. He will be sentenced April 23.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-33" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[33]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; line-height: 19.2px;">Ties to Allen Stanford<span class="mw-editsection mw-editsection-expanded" style="user-select: none; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 1em; display: inline-block; white-space: nowrap; padding-right: 0.25em; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; direction: ltr;">[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&action=edit&section=16&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Ties to Allen Stanford" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">edit source</a> | <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_E.Sweeney&veaction=edit&section=16&editintro=Template:BLP_editintro" title="Edit section: Ties to Allen Stanford" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">editbeta</a>]</h3>Sweeney was part of a group of lawmakers known as the Caribbean Caucus, sponsored by disgraced financier <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Stanford" title="Allen Stanford" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Allen Stanford</a>. The group, formed to promote relations with Caribbean nations, took 11 trips to places like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St.Croix" title="St. Croix" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">St. Croix</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montego_Bay" title="Montego Bay" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Montego Bay</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_Biscayne" title="Key Biscayne" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Key Biscayne</a>. The meetings, which included receptions with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobster" title="Lobster" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">lobster</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviar" title="Caviar" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">caviar</a> and wine, were paid for by the Inter-American Economic Council, a non-profit funded by Stanford and totaled $311,307 in costs. Other members of the Caucus included convicted influence peddler Rep. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Ney" title="Bob Ney" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Bob Ney</a> and close Sweeney friend Rep.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Sessions" title="Pete Sessions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Pete Sessions</a>. In 2004, Stanford hosted a wedding reception for Sweeney and his 34-year old girlfriend at the Pavilion Restaurant, owned by Stanford. At the time, Sweeney told the Antigua Sun “If it wasn’t for Allen, I certainly would not be here today."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-34" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[34]</a>===<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney</a><div id="mw-content-text" lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr" style="direction: ltr; line-height: 19.2px;">John E. Sweeney was a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Republican" title="Republican" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Republican</a> from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/New_York" title="New York" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">New York</a> who represented the state's 20th Congressional district (<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/ny20_109.gif" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">map</a>) in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">United States House of Representatives</a> from 1999 to 2007. He was defeated in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/2006_congressional_elections" title="2006 congressional elections" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2006 congressional elections</a> by Rep. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Kirsten_Gillibrand" title="Kirsten Gillibrand" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Kirsten Gillibrand</a> (D-N.Y.).<table id="toc" class="toc" style="background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 5px;"><tbody><tr><td><div id="toctitle" style="direction: ltr; text-align: center;"><h2 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; border: none; width: auto; display: inline;">Contents</h2>  [<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#" class="internal" id="togglelink" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">hide</a>] </div><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Bio" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1 Bio</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Background" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.1 Background</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Health_concerns" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.1.1 Health concerns</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Congressional_career" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2 Congressional career</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-5" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Iraq_War" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2.1 Iraq War</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-6" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#2006_elections" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">1.2.2 2006 elections</a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-7" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Meet_the_cash_constituents" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">2 Meet the cash constituents</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Controversy" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3 Controversy</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Campaign_tactics" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.1 Campaign tactics</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Fundraising_questions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.2 Fundraising questions</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Jack_Abramoff_link" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.3 Jack Abramoff link</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-12" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Marianas_Island_trip" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.3.1 Marianas Island trip</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#.22Congressman_Kick_Ass.22" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.4 "Congressman Kick Ass"</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Congressional_Winter_Challenge" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.5 Congressional Winter Challenge</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Ties_to_boating_industry" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.6 Ties to boating industry</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-16" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Earmark_reform" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.7 Earmark reform</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Wife.27s_911_call" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.8 Wife's 911 call</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Drunk_driving_and_its_aftermath" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">3.9 Drunk driving and its aftermath</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-19" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Committees_and_affiliations" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">4 Committees and affiliations</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-20" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Committees" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">4.1 Committees</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-21" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Coalitions_and_caucuses" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">4.2 Coalitions and caucuses</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-22" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Boards_and_other_affiliations" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">4.3 Boards and other affiliations</a></li></ul></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-23" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#More_background_data" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">5 More background data</a></li><li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-24" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Articles_and_resources" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6 Articles and resources</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#References" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.1 References</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-26" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Resources" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.2 Resources</a></li><li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-27" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Articles" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3 Articles</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-28" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#2000" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3.1 2000</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-29" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#2001" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3.2 2001</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-30" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#2002" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3.3 2002</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-31" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#2005" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3.4 2005</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-32" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#2006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3.5 2006</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-33" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Health_Articles" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3.6 Health Articles</a></li><li class="toclevel-3 tocsection-34" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#Local_blogs_and_discussion_sites" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">6.3.7 Local blogs and discussion sites</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Bio</h2><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Background</h3>Sweeney was born August 9, 1955, in Troy, New York. He graduated from Russell Sage College in 1981 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice and his J.D. from Western New England College School of Law in 1991. Sweeney was the New York State Commissioner of Labor under Governor <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_Pataki" title="George Pataki" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">George Pataki</a> from 1995 to 1997, and served as Executive Director & Chief Counsel of the New York Republican Party from 1992 to 1995. Sweeney has three children, and lives in Clifton Park, New York.<h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Health concerns</h4>The congressman has been in and out of the hospital. He was recently diagnosed with vasculitis <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/Sweeney_ailing-14Mar06.htm" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[2]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Congressional career</h3>He was elected to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="United States House of Representatives" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">House of Representatives</a> in 1998 in Saratoga County.<h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Iraq War</h4>Sweeney voted for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Authorization_for_Use_of_Military_Force_Against_Iraq_Resolution_of_2002" title="Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002</a> that started the Iraq War.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-0" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[1]</a><div style="background-color: rgb(220, 232, 248); margin: 0.5em 0.75em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(92, 121, 181); padding: 0.25em;">For more information see the chart of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S.House_of_Representatives_votes_on_the_Iraq_War" title="U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War</a>.</div><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">2006 elections</h4>In 2006, the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Democratic_Party" title="Democratic Party" class="mw-redirect" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Democrats</a> nominated <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Kirsten_Gillibrand" title="Kirsten Gillibrand" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Kirsten Gillibrand</a> to face Sweeney in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/U.S.congressional_elections_in_2006" title="U.S. congressional elections in 2006" class="mw-redirect" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">U.S. congressional elections in 2006</a>) <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://opensecrets.org/states/election.asp?State=AL&year=2006" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%;">[3]</a> Gillibrand defeated Sweeney 53% to 47% to take possession of the seat. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/NY/" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%;">[4]</a><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Meet the cash constituents</h2><table class="prettytable" style="background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); margin: 1em 1em 1em 0px; border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); border-collapse: collapse;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="3" style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Links to more campaign contribution information for John E. Sweeney
from the Center for Responsive Politics' <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">OpenSecrets.org</a> site.</th></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;">Fundraising profile:</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009821" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">2006 election cycle</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allsummary.asp?cid=N00009821" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Career totals</a></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;">Top contributors by organization/corporation:</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009821" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">2006 election cycle</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allcontrib.asp?cid=N00009821" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Career totals</a></td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;">Top contributors by industry:</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/indus.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00009821" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">2006 election cycle</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); padding: 0.2em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/allindus.asp?cid=N00009821" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Career totals</a></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Controversy</h2><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Campaign tactics</h3>A formal complaint was filed by one of his constituents, Lisa Scerbo of Mechanicville, N.Y. She filed the complaint with the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, which is in charge of franking mail in Congress. She charged that he violated the Congressional franking privileges. The constituent stated that he mailed 500 letters less than 90 days before New York's, September 12, primary.<a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/080206/mail.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[5]</a>According to his deputy chief of staff, Sweeney sent a letter on veterans' issues to 19,260 homes costing $9,685, on June 30, 2006. "The decision I made to send franked mail at that time was based on the endorsements from all five Independence Party county organizations and the information our office received unequivocally stating the congressman would not face a primary," said Carlson, his deputy chief of staff. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/080206/mail.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[6]</a>Scerbo believes that Sweeney would be nominated by the Independence Party as a candidate for Sept. 12, primary. If Sweeney's name is on the ballot, he will have to repay the government for the franking cost or withdraw from the ballot. Sweeney's violation of the rules of the House depends on New York's election laws, which allows candidates to run for a nomination of more than one party.<a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/080206/mail.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[7]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Fundraising questions</h3>Sweeney was recently criticized in an Albany Times Union editorial for hosting a Utah fundraising ski trip that included dinner at lobbyist <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jeff_Kimbell&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Jeff Kimbell (page does not exist)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Jeff Kimbell</a>'s house. Kimbell represents <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Novartis" title="Novartis" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Novartis</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Allergan" title="Allergan" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Allergan</a>, both pharmaceutical companies. The editorial asks, "Why Mr. Sweeney would be taking money from lobbyists at this point (after the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Jack_Abramoff" title="Jack Abramoff" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Jack Abramoff</a> scandal), though, or even raising it in the presence of one, is its own riddle. It takes the glow off his credentials as a crusader for reforming the way the House operates."<a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=441203" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[8]</a>Brad Card, brother of White House Chief of Staff, Andrew H. Card, Jr. is a Sweeney donor to the tune of $7,500 <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_ind/C00337428/1/C/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[9]</a> and was a former top aide for Sweeney. Card was also one of the lobbyists <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.capitalpress.info/Formlayout.asp?Formcall=30&SectionID=67&SubSectionID=782&ArticleID=23505" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[10]</a> for the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/National_Uniformity_for_Food_Act" title="National Uniformity for Food Act" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">National Uniformity for Food Act</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-4167" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[11]</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14050860.htm" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[12]</a>, which Sweeney co-sponsored. Sweeney took in donations tied to at least 4 proponents of the Act. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://20trueblue.blogspot.com/2006/03/show-me-money.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[13]</a>Sweeney is among seven members of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/House_Appropriations_Committee" title="House Appropriations Committee" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">House Appropriations Committee</a> who have a <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Political_action_committee" title="Political action committee" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">political action committee</a> which is either headed by a registered <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Lobbyist" title="Lobbyist" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">lobbyist</a> or a former registered lobbyist with "business" before the Committee, "according to the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Center_for_Public_Integrity" title="Center for Public Integrity" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Center for Public Integrity</a> and campaign records." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/26/AR2006012602221_pf.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[14]</a><h3 style="background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Jack Abramoff link</h3>In 2002, Sweeney received $1,000 from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and $1,000 from the Tigua Indian Reservation, both of which were clients of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Jack_Abramoff" title="Jack Abramoff" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Jack Abramoff</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff_recips_detail.asp?type=R&Name=John+E.+Sweeney+(R-NY)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[15]</a> The Associated Press <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10723902/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">reported</a> January 5, 2006, that Sweeney donated the $2,000 which he had received to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.John Sweeney's financial records are now being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.poststar.net/archives/story.asp?storyid=215745" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[16]</a>Sweeney first received funding in April 2001 from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Greenberg_Traurig" title="Greenberg Traurig" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Greenberg Traurig</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_supopp/C00266585/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%;">[17]</a>, which is now one of the top 13 contributors to the 2005-2006 Sweeney Campaign. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?CID=N00009821&cycle=2006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%;">[18]</a><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Marianas Island trip</h4>In 2001, Sweeney travelled to the Northern Marianas Island to give a speech to its Chamber of Commerce. His trip was paid for by the Chamber of Congress, a client of Abramoff at the time, and he was accompanied by Tony Rudy, a former <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tom_DeLay" title="Tom DeLay" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Tom DeLay</a> aide tnen working for Abramoff. Federal law stipulates that members of Congress must disclose all trips funded by private sources, but Sweeney failed to do this. He claimed that he believed the trip to have been funded by the government of the islands. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=526600" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[19]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">"Congressman Kick Ass"</h3>During the 2000 election recount, Congressman Sweeney participated in the "Brooks Brothers Riot," which shut down the vote recount in Miami. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.consortiumnews.com/2002/080502a.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[20]</a> This led to his nickname of "Congressman Kick Ass" <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.slate.com/id/94131/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[21]</a> from <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/George_W.Bush" title="George W. Bush" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">George W. Bush</a>. Some in his district have been known to identify Sweeney as "Congressman Kiss Ass" <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://lisamanzi.typepad.com/weblog/2006/02/20_true_blue_po.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[22]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Congressional Winter Challenge</h3>On July 15, 2006, Sweeney refused to appear before a state committee investigating the annual Congressional Winter Challenge in Lake Placid, New York. The event, hosted by Sweeney, has attracted a few members of Congress including Reps. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_McHugh" title="John McHugh" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">John McHugh</a> (R-N.Y.), <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Anne_Northup" title="Anne Northup" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Anne Northup</a> (R-Ky.), <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/James_Walsh" title="James Walsh" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">James Walsh</a> (R-N.Y.), <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Pete_Sessions" title="Pete Sessions" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Pete Sessions</a> (R-Texas) and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Sherwood_Boehlert" title="Sherwood Boehlert" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Sherwood Boehlert</a> (R-N.Y.). Aides to other congressional members have attended. The event was intended to lobby members of Congress for aid to maintain the facilities in Lake Placid once used during the 1980 Winter Olympics. While the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), a part of New York state government, is supposed to formally invites guests without input from Sweeney, the state power authority pays for $25,000 of the event’s costs. Since the annual event began in 1998, funding for ORDA has actually gone down. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=1649" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[23]</a>This led several New York state assemblymen to launch an investigation into whether or not the state money was being put to good use. Subpoenaed documents have shown that the event has been attended mostly by Sweeney's campaign donors <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=500907" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[24]</a>, corporate lobbyists, congressional staffers and officials from the New York Power Authority and their families. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/071806/sweeney.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[25]</a>ORDA's President, Ted Blazer, testified that Sweeney "helped assemble invitations to the annual Congressional Winter Challenge at Lake Placid - in apparent violation of a House Committee on Standards opinion". <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=1624" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[26]</a> Sweeney refused to testify.On September 18, 2006, state Reps. Richard Brosky and Paul Tonto issued a final report highly critical of Sweeney and his involvement in the Congressional Winter Challenge. The lawmakers extracted promises from the organizations that oversee the Winter Challenge to remove Sweeney from the invitation process. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_27/news/14985-1.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[27]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Ties to boating industry</h3>During the 2006 election cycle, Sweeney was one of the top recipients of campaign contributions from the National Marine Manufacturers Association PAC, the largest in the boating industry. The PAC had given Sweeney $4,000 in cash as of August 2006. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006608270351" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[28]</a> In addition, Sweeney also benefitted by using the PAC's yacht to throw two campaign fundraisers on board. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/NEWS01/609060305/1006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[29]</a>Meanwhile, also in 2006, Sweeney introduced a bill that would allow boat manufacturers to take a tax deduction if they include personal flotation devices and electronic distress devices at no additional cost to consumers. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006608270351" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[30]</a>On September 5, 2006, State Democrats sharply criticized Sweeney for accepting campaign donations from the PAC. Blake Zeff, a spokesman for the state Democratic committee, said, "There is a pattern of behavior with this particular congressman who we are trying to hold accountable for a record that has contributed to a feeling among voters of a culture of corruption in Washington." <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/NEWS01/609060305/1006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[31]</a>Principally as a result of these scandals, Sweeney was named in 2006 by <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washington" title="Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</a> as one of the twenty most corrupt US legislators. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=156" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[32]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Earmark reform</h3>In September of 2006, Sweeney voiced his opposition to a House resolution that would require the identification of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Earmarks" title="Earmarks" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">earmarks</a>' sponsors in tax, authorization, and appropriations bills, claiming it to unfairly target members of the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/House_Appropriations_Committee" title="House Appropriations Committee" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Appropriations Committee</a>, of which he is a member. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/091406/earmark.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[33]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Wife's 911 call</h3>In December of 2005, Sweeney's wife Gaia called 911 and told the operator that her husband was "knocking her around." After the phone went dead, an operator called the residence back and spoke to both Sweeney and his wife, who each claimed that there was no longer any problem. A police officer was sent to check on the situation (a routine procedure, even in cases where the original caller states that there is no problem). His report stated that Sweeney had scratches on his face but neither he nor his wife wanted medical attention or to file any charges. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=530664&category=&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=10/31/2006&TextPage=1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[34]</a>Following the election, the officer who Sweeney's campaign suspected of leaking the police report detailing the incident had been demoted. He claimed innocence in the matter and his union filed a grievance. <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=536124&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=11/17/2006&TextPage=1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[35]</a>Soon after, the Albany Times-Union reported that New York State Police released an altered version of the original police report. They did so because they believed the actual report to be a "political document" that would hurt Sweeney's chances for re-election (he was ultimately defeated in any case). <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=536124&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=11/17/2006&TextPage=1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[36]</a><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Drunk driving and its aftermath</h3>On November 14, 2007, Sweeney pleaded guilty, was fined $1,000, and had his driver's license suspended for six months after his arrest for driving while intoxicated. According to law enforcement officials, a 24-year-old female passenger was on Sweeney's lap while he drove, and he was pulled over his vehicle nearly struck a State Police cruiser.<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[2]</a>According to a law enforcement source, Sweeney summoned a cab for himself and two friends while at a club in Clifton Park, N.Y. early on the morning of Dec. 27. When the cab arrived, Sweeney wasn't ready to go. So he asked the driver to bring two of his friends home and come back and get him.The source says Sweeney still wasn't ready to leave when the taxi returned. The driver waited 45 minutes and then Sweeney got in the car and the driver brought him to his Clifton Park home.The source says Sweeney refused to pay the $80-plus cab fare. The cab company called police. State troopers showed up at the Sweeney home, but he didn't answer the door. The source says troopers called Sweeney's attorney and asked that Sweeney come to the barracks to be formally charged.However, according to the law enforcement source, Sweeney's family brought payment and "something for the driver" to the cab company. The company then notified state police that they wanted to withdraw the complaint. <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-2" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[3]</a><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Committees and affiliations</h2><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Committees</h3><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/House_Committee_on_Appropriations" title="House Committee on Appropriations" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">House Committee on Appropriations</a><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=);"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Export Financing and Related Programs</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Homeland Security</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Subcommittee on Transportation Treasury and Housing and Urban Development The Judiciary District of Columbia</li></ul></li></ul><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Coalitions and caucuses</h3><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">New York Republican Party, Executive Director, 1992-1995</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Co-Chair, Correctional Officers Caucus</li></ul><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Boards and other affiliations</h3><ul style="line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Global_Fairness_Initiative" title="Global Fairness Initiative" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Global Fairness Initiative</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Director, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Institute_for_America%27s_Future" title="Institute for America's Future" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Institute for America's Future</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_note-3" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap;">[4]</a></li></ul><h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">More background data</h2><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=CNY88544" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Background information on John E. Sweeney from Project Vote Smart</a></li></ul><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=CNY88544" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Interest group scorecard ratings for John E. Sweeney from Project Vote Smart</a></li></ul><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/s001149" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Voting record for John E. Sweeney from the Washington Post database</a></li></ul><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=NY20&site=congressmerge" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Information on John E. Sweeney from Congress Merge</a></li></ul><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Wikipedia</a> also has an article on <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">John E. Sweeney</a>. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">GFDL</a>.<h2 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); width: auto;">Articles and resources</h2><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">References</h3><ol class="references" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 3.2em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: none;"><li id="cite_note-0" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_ref-0" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">↑</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2002/roll455.xml" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Roll call vote</a>, Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.</li><li id="cite_note-1" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_ref-1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">↑</a> Robert Gavin, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=639231" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Sweeney makes plea, apologies</a>," Times Union (Albany, NY), November 15, 2007.</li><li id="cite_note-2" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_ref-2" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">↑</a> Mark Mulholland,"<a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S305102.shtml?cat=300" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">[1]</a>," January 7, 2008.</li><li id="cite_note-3" style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_E.Sweeney#cite_ref-3" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">↑</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.ourfuture.org/page/2009052122/institute-america-board-members" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Directors</a>, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Campaign_for_America%27s_Future" title="Campaign for America's Future" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Campaign for America's Future</a>, accessed October 20, 2009.</li></ol><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Resources</h3><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E.Sweeney" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">John E. Sweeney</a> in the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Wikipedia</a>.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=NY20&site=congressmerge" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">John E. Sweeney</a>, Congressmerge.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dccc.org/houseofscandal/members/JohnSweeneyNY-20.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Just how tangled up in the GOP Culture of Corruption is John Sweeney?"</a>, a report by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://opensecrets.org/races/index.asp" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Open Secrets</a> - 2006 congressional races database</li></ul><h3 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Articles</h3><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">2000</h4><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Paul A. Gigot, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pgigot/?id=65000673" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Miami Heat. A burgher rebellion in Dade County,"</a> OpinionJournal, November 24, 2000.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Robert Wright, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.slate.com/id/94131/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Mad as Hell,"</a> Slate, November 24, 2000.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Tim Padgett, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,89450,00.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Mob Scene In Miami. We look at the players behind the 'spontaneous' protest that preceded the shutdown of Miami-Dade's recount,"</a> TIME, November 26, 2000.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Timothy Noah, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.slate.com/id/1006572/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney and the Siege of Miami,"</a> Slate, November 28, 2000.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Toby Eglund, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thegully.com/essays/america/001201sweeney.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"The Guy Who Gored Al. The irresistible ascension of John E. Sweeney,"</a> The Gully, December 1, 2000.</li></ul><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">2001</h4><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Michael Tomasky, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/politics/columns/citypolitic/4473/index.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Pol Versus Pole. Congressman John Sweeney led the Republican troops in Miami last November. But when he wrecked his car a few weeks ago, he stayed out of the limelight,"</a> New York Magazine, March 19, 2001 (issue).</li></ul><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">2002</h4><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Robert Parry, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.consortiumnews.com/2002/080502a.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Bush's Conspiracy to Riot,"</a> Consortium News, August 5, 2002.</li></ul><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">2005</h4><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Al Kamen, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31074-2005Jan23.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Miami 'Riot' Squad: Where Are They Now?"</a> Washington Post, January 24, 2005.</li></ul><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">2006</h4><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10723902/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Bush, lawmakers returning Abramoff donations. Move follows lobbyist’s guilty plea in corruption investigation,"</a> Associated Press (MSNBC), January 5, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Arianna Huffington, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.alternet.org/columnists/story/30448/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Giving Away Abramoff's Money,"</a> AlterNet, January 5, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elizabeth White, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.startribune.com/587/story/166652.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Bush, Lawmakers Drop Cash Tied to Abramoff,"</a> Associated Press (Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN), January 6, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Jonathan Weisman, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/08/AR2006010800686.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Hastert Moves to Tighten Rules on Lobbyists,"</a> Washington Post, January 9, 2006: "In the first sign that even Hastert could be in trouble, Rep. John E. Sweeney (R-N.Y.) said Republicans should consider whether to replace the speaker. 'The time is right for us to do some soul-searching and have an open dialogue about the direction of the House.'" re <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Dennis_Hastert" title="Dennis Hastert" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Dennis Hastert</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.capitaleye.org/abramoff_recips_detail.asp?type=R&Name=John+E.+Sweeney+(R-NY)" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Jack Abramoff Lobbying and Political Contributions, 1999 - 2006,"</a> Capital Eye, Updated January 12, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thetenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2006/01/4th-quarter-fund-raising.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"4th Quarter Fund Raising,"</a> The 10,000 Things, January 12, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elizabeth Benjamin, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?StoryID=440790&Category=STATE&LinkFrom=RSS" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney jaunt spurs charge of hypocrisy. Democratic foe Kirsten Gillibrand slams GOP congressman for Utah event with lobbyist,"</a> Times Union (Albany, NY), January 18, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elizabeth Benjamin, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=441200&category=STATE&BCCode=&newsdate=1/19/2006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Democrats: Sweeney ski trip a slippery slope. County leaders say Republican's Utah event hurts state resorts,"</a>Times Union (Albany, NY), January 19, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=441200" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">January 19, 2006 Times Union article, "Democrats: Sweeney ski trip a slippery slope."</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=441203&category=OPINION&BCCode=&newsdate=1/19/2006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Editorial: "Skiing for Dollars,"</a> Times Union (Albany, NY), January 19, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Andrew C. White, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/1/20/03455/4583" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"(Fixed &) UPDATED: Sweeney caught... and complaining about it,"</a> Daily Kos, January 19, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wonkette.com/politics/john-sweeney/index.php" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"John Sweeney. Further Proof that Winter Sports Are Just a Dumb Idea,"</a> Wonkette, January 23, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Meghan Clyne, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nysun.com/article/26349" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"House Insurgents Pressing to Oust Entire Leadership,"</a> New York Sun, January 24, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Jonathan Weisman and Charles R. Babcock, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/26/AR2006012602221_pf.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"K Street's New Ways Spawn More Pork. As Barriers With Lawmakers Fall, 'Earmarks' Grow,"</a> Washington Post, January 27, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Raymond Hernandez, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/31/politics/31sweeney.html?ex=1296363600&en=1e7b0c42833acb04&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Democrats Try to Tie Upstate Congressman to Washington G.O.P. Scandals,"</a> New York Times, January 31, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Kelk, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/9/163649/6892" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Rep. John Sweeney's (NY-20) Lobbyist Connections: it's all in the Cards,"</a> Daily Kos, February 9, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Roy Temple, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.firedupamerica.com/john_sweeney_is_worried" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"What's Worrying Sweeney?"</a> Fired Up America!, February 24, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Libby Quaid, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:k16t5xNxD90J:www.palmbeachpost.com/health/content/shared-gen/ap/Health_Medical/Food_Warnings.html+%22John+Sweeney%22,+lobbyist&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=34" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Foes of Food Labeling Bill Criticize Law,"</a> Associated Press (Palm Beach Post), March 6, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://20trueblue.blogspot.com/2006/03/show-me-money.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Show me the Money,"</a> 20TrueBlue, March 12, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Roll_Call_DOJ_investigating_9_Congressmen_0313.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Justice Dept. reviewed financial records of nine congressmen in 2005, paper reports,"</a> The Raw Story, March 13, 2006. Article cites Roll Call, which is registration-restricted.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thetenthousandthings.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Is there something you're not telling us, John Sweeney?"</a> The 10,000 Things, March 13, 2006. Includes excerpts from Roll Call article.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Maury Thompson, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poststar.com/story.asp?storyid=214287" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Justice Department examines Sweeney financial records,"</a> The Post-Star (Glen Falls, NY), March 13, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=172178" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"24-hour checkpoint proposed for Northway,"</a> Associated Press (Capital News 9 (Albany, NY)), March 16, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Maury Thompson, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poststar.com/story.asp?storyid=214508" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"I-87 checkpoint idea sparks debate: What do you think? Some worry facility would curtail commerce,"</a> The Post-Star(Glen Falls, NY), March 16, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Paul Kiel, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000158.php" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"John Sweeney Paid Wife on Commission for Fundraising,"</a> 'TPM Muckraker, March 22, 2006. Like <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/John_Doolittle" title="John Doolittle" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">John Doolittle</a>'s wife, "Sweeney's wife Gayle Ford had no known prior fundraising experience before working for her husband's campaign. Her rate, 10 percent, was more modest than <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Julie_Doolittle" title="Julie Doolittle" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Julie Doolittle</a>'s 15 percent, but her company Creative Consulting has made a substantial income since 2003 from Sweeney: $49,209 in fees variously described as 'fundraising' or 'consulting' on <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/FEC" title="FEC" class="mw-redirect" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">FEC</a> reports."</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Michelle Breidenbach, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1143194732103520.xml&coll=1&thispage=1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Congressmen, staff, lobbyists share a winter weekend on public's dime,"</a> The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), March 26, 2006: "The New York Power Authority used public money to pay for a $25,000 ski weekend for Rep. John Sweeney, of New York; a Texas congressman and his wife; at least a dozen lobbyists; and other D.C. staffers in Lake Placid. ... [paying the way] for the congressmen and other invited guests to ski, skate and toboggan like real Olympians for three days this winter."</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elizabeth Benjamin, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=696#comments" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney Under Fire,"</a> Capital Confidential Blog / Times Union (Albany, NY), March 29, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Maury Thompson, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poststar.com/story.asp?storyid=216448" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney ski guests contributed $12,400 to his re-election campaign,"</a> The Post-Star (Glens Falls, NY), March 29, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/04/the_party_wasnt.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"The Party Wasn't Even In His District,"</a> The Hotline Blog / National Journal, April 27, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elizabeth Benjamin, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=983" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Party Hearty,"</a> Capitol Confidential Blog / Times Union (Albany, NY), April 27, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/003194.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Memo to any members of Congress reading this blog... never, NEVER, ever decide that it's a good idea to spontaneously show up at a college frat party. Especially when you're running for re-election. Especially when the frat party in question isn't even located in your district,"</a> Attytood, April 27, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Paul Kiel, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000514.php" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"College Paper: Sweeney Was Drunk,"</a> TPM Muckraker, May 1, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Gur, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/gur/o_congress_person_where_art_thou.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">O Congress Person, Where Art Thou?</a> "Room Eight", May 9, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Gur, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/gur/the_phattest_bubble_youve_ever_seen.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">The Phattest Bubble You've Ever Seen?</a> "Room Eight", May 12, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Raymond Hernandez, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00F1EFF3E5A0C768DDDAC0894DE404482/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Congressman with Long Reach Faces Political Battle of His Life</a>", New York Times, May 15, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Devlin Barrett, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/05/31/ap2782866.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Moderate Republicans an Endangered Breed</a>", Associated Press, May 31, 2006</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Francis X. Clines, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://select.nytimes.com/gst/tsc.html?URI=http://select.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/opinion/07talkingpoints.html&OQ=_rQ3D1Q26pagewantedQ3Dall&OP=6f3a4184Q2FiskQ5CiW7VRRWiQ27Q24Q24Q26iQ24Q26iQ24Q3AiRlPDPRDiQ24Q3AWC@dPDQ7BlRPDW7hQ7DW1@/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Can the Democrats Win Back Congress?</a>", New York Times, June 7, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/gur/what_part_of_you_will_pimp_my_pay_to_168k_did_you_not_understand.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">What Part Of "You Will Pimp My Pay to $168K" Did You Not Understand?</a> by Gur, Room Eight, 6/30/06.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Congressional Wire, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/congressional_wire/megabux_not_so_easy_being_sweeney.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Megabux: Not So Easy Being Sweeney</a>", Room Eight, July 6, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Congressional Wire, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/admin/earth_to_congress_come_in.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Earth to Congress - Come In!</a>", Room Eight, July 11, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Gur, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/admin/why_bother.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Why Bother?</a>", Room Eight, July 12, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elana Schor, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/071806/sweeney.html," style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"State Assembly questions funding of Sweeney’s trips to Lake Placid,"</a> The Hill, July 18, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Jonathan E. Kaplan, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/080206/mail.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney's franked mail piece questioned,"</a> The Hill, August 2, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Congress Wire, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/congress_wire/5s_2s_and_7s_doin_their_thing_ny.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">5s, 2s and 7s Doin' Their Thing In NY</a>", Room Eight, August 23, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Congress Wire, "<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.r8ny.com/blog/mrs_panstreppon/q_when_is_an_upper_east_side_democrat_not_a_democrat.html/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Q. When Is An Upper East Side Democrat Not A Democrat?</a>", Room Eight, August 25, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">John Ferro, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006608270351" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">“Boatmakers back good ship Sweeney,”</a> Poughkeepsie Journal, August 28, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">John Ferro, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/NEWS01/609060305/1006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney takes heat over fundraising,"</a> Poughkeepsie Journal, September 6, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elana Schor and Patrick O'Connor, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/091406/earmark.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Lewis balks at earmark reform,"</a> The Hill, September 14, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Josh Kurtz, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_27/news/14985-1.html" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Report Blasts Sweeney's Role in Ski Trips"</a> Roll Call, September 18, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.citizensforethics.org/press/newsrelease.php?view=156" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"CREW releases second annual most corrupt members of Congress report,"</a> <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Citizens_for_Responsibility_and_Ethics_in_Washington" title="Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: none;">Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington</a>, September 20, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Elizabeth Benjamin, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=526600" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney Trip in Question,"</a> Times Union (Albany), October 18, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Brenda J. Lyons, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=530664&category=&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=10/31/2006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Congressman's wife called police. Sweeney campaign says the document concerning a domestic incident is 'false and concocted',"</a> Times Union (Albany), October 31, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Brendan J. Lyons and James M. Odato, [<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=536124&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=11/17/2006&TextPage=1" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Bid to 'lock up' Sweeney report described,"</a> Times Union (Albany, NY), November 17, 2006.</li></ul><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Health Articles</h4><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.poststar.com/story.asp?storyid=211744" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"U.S. Rep. John Sweeney in hospital overnight,"</a> The Post-Star (Glen Falls, NY), February 22, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=454194&category=REGIONOTHER&BCCode=&newsdate=2/24/2006" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney remains in hospital for added tests,"</a> Times-Union (Albany, NY), February 24, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4555202&nav=2aKD" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney returns to hospital,"</a> WSTM NBC 3, February 26, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;">Steve Ference, <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/your_news/capital_region/default.asp?ArID=170234" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Doctors comment on Sweeney's condition,"</a> Capital News 9 (Albany, NY), February 28, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=A80BC308-E328-4B6D-AA33-2252A39F6BAA" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney Out of Hospital; Speaks to Supporters,"</a> Fox23 News, March 3, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wten.com/Global/story.asp?S=4544862&nav=0Rdv" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Sweeney Readmitted to Hospital, Pataki Recovering,"</a> WTEN News (Albany, NY), March 7, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=4617448&nav=2aKD" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Congressman to undergo more tests for high blood pressure problem,"</a> Associated Press (WSTM NBC 3), March 11, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--sweeney-health0313mar13,0,3839186.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Scan solves Rep. Sweeney's health riddle,"</a> Associated Press (Newsday), March 13, 2006.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.midhudsonnews.com/News/Sweeney_ailing-14Mar06.htm" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">"Rep. Sweeney diagnosed with vasculitis,"</a> MidHudsonNews.com, March 14, 2006.</li></ul><h4 style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background-image: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.3em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-style: none; width: auto;">Local blogs and discussion sites</h4><ul style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); line-height: 1.5em; list-style-type: square; margin: 0.3em 0px 0.5em 1.6em; padding: 0px; list-style-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAANCAMAAABW4lS6AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAAZQTFRFAFKM////QIUK9QAAAAJ0Uk5T/wDltzBKAAAAGklEQVR42mJgBAEGokgGBjBGBxBxsBqAAAMACHwALd5r8ygAAAAASUVORK5CYII=");"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://20trueblue.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">20 True Blue</a></li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.1em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://simplyleftbehind.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none; background-image: url("data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAoAAAAKCAYAAACNMs+9AAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAAFZJREFUeF59z4EJADEIQ1F36k7u5E7ZKXeUQPACJ3wK7UNokVxVk9kHnQH7bY9hbDyDhNXgjpRLqFlo4M2GgfyJHhjq8V4agfrgPQX3JtJQGbofmCHgA/nAKks+JAjFAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC"); padding-right: 13px; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat;">Simply Left Behind</a></li></ul></div>

Sweeney, J Rep

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