Lowery, Wm

<a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a> also has an article on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lewis" class="external text" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lewis" rel="nofollow">Jerry Lewis</a>. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL" class="external text" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFDL" rel="nofollow">GFDL</a>. Wikipedia also has a separate article on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lewis-Lowery_lobbying_firm_controversy" class="external text" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lewis-Lowery_lobbying_firm_controversy" rel="nofollow">relationship of Jerry Lewis to lobbyist Bill Lowery and Lowery's lobbying firm</a>

<h3>Bill Lowery and Fall-out from Duke Cunningham Case</h3>

After the conviction of <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Duke_Cunningham" title="Duke Cunningham" class="mw-redirect">Duke Cunningham</a> on bribery charges, Lewis' ties to lobbyists and local defense contractors came under greater scrutiny. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Lewis "has greenlighted hundreds of millions of dollars in federal projects for clients of one of his closest friends, lobbyist and former state Congressman <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bill_Lowery&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Bill Lowery (page does not exist)">Bill Lowery</a>."<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20051223-9999-lz1n23lewis.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20051223-9999-lz1n23lewis.html" rel="nofollow">[9]</a>

Lowery's lobbying firm and clients contributed 37 percent of the $1.3 million raised by Lewis' political action committee for the last six years. Lowery's business has boomed since Lewis' previous chairmanship of subcommitte for Defense Appropriations. The firm's income tripled from $1.58 million to $5.11 million and the client list multiplied from 28 to 101 since 1998. Many of the projects listed above were obtained with the lobbying prowess of Lowery and his firm.<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20051223-9999-lz1n23lewis.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20051223-9999-lz1n23lewis.html" rel="nofollow">[10]</a>

Creating greater problems for Lewis is the fact that one of those clients that hired Lowery is implicated in the bribery case involving Cunningham. The client, <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Brent_Wilkes" title="Brent Wilkes" class="mw-redirect">Brent Wilkes</a> and his defense contracting empire, also contributed to Lewis' PAC.

On May 11, 2006 the Los Angeles Times reported that Lewis was the subject of a federal investigation for his relationship with "a Washington lobbyist linked to disgraced former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham". That "Washington lobbyist" was revealed to be Bill Lowery. Of particular interest to investigators are the actions of Lewis' staff, especially <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Jeffrey_Shockey" title="Jeffrey Shockey">Jeffrey Shockey</a><a href="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1160453,00.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1160453,00.html" rel="nofollow">[11]</a> and <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Letitia_White&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Letitia White (page does not exist)">Letitia White</a><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/15/MNG5CH8NRD1.DTL" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/15/MNG5CH8NRD1.DTL" rel="nofollow">[12]</a><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/washington/03white.html?ei=5090&en=8028e0b0e0e4445b&ex=1306987200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/washington/03white.html?ei=5090&en=8028e0b0e0e4445b&ex=1306987200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print" rel="nofollow">[13]</a><a href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000707.php" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000707.php" rel="nofollow">[14]</a>. Lewis has vehemently denied any impropriety in his actions stating that all of his earmarks were for "my constituents and my people." When contacted about the investigation Lewis expressed shock, "For goodness sake, why would they be doing that?"<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lewis11may11,0,2817251.story?coll=la-home-headlines" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-lewis11may11,0,2817251.story?coll=la-home-headlines" rel="nofollow">[15]</a>

On June 1, the San Bernardino Sun reported that the City of Redlands, Calif. and San Bernardino County, both clients of Lowery's law firm, had been subpoenaed in the federal investigation into possible lobbying and earmarking abuses by Lowery's firm and Lewis.<a href="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3886271" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3886271" rel="nofollow">[16]</a> Four days later it was revealed that two other clients of the law firm had also been subpoenaed, Cal State University San Bernardino and Riverside County, Calif.<a href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/51_131/news/13629-1.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/51_131/news/13629-1.html" rel="nofollow">[17]</a> Investigators are paying particularly close attention to Jeffrey Shockey, who shuttled between Lewis' office and Lowery's firm.<a href="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/51_131/news/13629-1.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.rollcall.com/issues/51_131/news/13629-1.html" rel="nofollow">[18]</a> On June 6, three more cities, Loma Linda, Yucca Valley, and Twentynine Palms, stated that they had been issued subpoenas.<a href="http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3902948" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3902948" rel="nofollow">[19]</a> <a href="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3906155" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3906155" rel="nofollow">[20]</a> Yet another city joined them on June 14, as Highland announced it had been issued a subpoena.<a href="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3937778" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3937778" rel="nofollow">[21]</a> The total number of clients of Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White that have been issued subpoenas totals eight to date. <a href="http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3897488" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3897488" rel="nofollow">[22]</a> On June 13, the city of Redlands was reported to be considering terminating its' relationship with the lobbying group and on July 7th, the city council voted unanimously to do just that.<a href="http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_redlands14.303ea.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_D_redlands14.303ea.html" rel="nofollow">[23]</a><a href="http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_lobby06.1c0f8c7.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_lobby06.1c0f8c7.html" rel="nofollow">[24]</a>

After being subpoenaed, the San Bernardino Sun reported that the San Bernardino Country released 3,500 pages of documents showing the relationship between Jerry Lewis and the Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White lobbying firm. The documents show that the county used the firm to create “strategies to get federal funding,” work on “problems with endangered species,” and to “arrange meetings with senator and Congressmen". This includes meetings with Congressman Lewis. <a href="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3957143" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3957143" rel="nofollow">[25]</a>

On June 16, the Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White lobbying firm announced that it was splitting into two groups as a result of increased media scrutiny. Partners Bill Lowery, Jean Denton, and Letitia White comprised the group expected to lead the existing full service consulting firm, while partners James Copeland and Lynn Jacquez left in order to form a separate partnership. Each of the involved partners remain focused on their client work, including discussing issues on Capitol Hill and working with regulatory agencies. <a href="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3947930" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_3947930" rel="nofollow">[26]</a>

On June 29, it was reported that the Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White lobbying firm failed to report $2 million in lobbying fees. Corrections were made once a federal investigation was launched, but these 90 revised disclosures to Congress led to a realization that figures had been misreported from 1998 to 2005. According to one legal expert, the firm is in "serious trouble." <a href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001029.php" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001029.php" rel="nofollow">[27]</a>

On June 30, it was reported that clients of the Copeland Lowery firm continued to give funds to Lewis just days after news surfaced of a federal investigation into his relationship with them. Lewis got at least $23,000 in donations from Copeland Lowery clients after this point, mostly from defense contractors. <a href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001023.php" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001023.php" rel="nofollow">[28]</a>

<h4>Letitia White</h4>

Lowery's firm employs Lewis' ex-chief of staff <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Letitia_White&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Letitia White (page does not exist)">Letitia White</a>, who is "is good at what she does." White was known as the gatekeeper to contractors seeking appropriations from Lewis. From her position on Lewis' staff she helped direct hundreds of millions of dollars to clients of Lowery. She was lavished with dinners and gifts by lobbyists and contractors like <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Brent_Wilkes" title="Brent Wilkes" class="mw-redirect">Brent Wilkes</a> and Lowery because of her ability to influence Lewis. One Lockheed Martin official stated that she "controls" Lewis.<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/washington/03white.html?ei=5090&en=8028e0b0e0e4445b&ex=1306987200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/washington/03white.html?ei=5090&en=8028e0b0e0e4445b&ex=1306987200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print" rel="nofollow">[29]</a>

In late 2002, Lewis cut White’s pay by $11,000, making her annual salary only $80 under the legal limit which would have prevented her from entering a private lobbying firm immediately after leaving Lewis’ office in January 2003. <a href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001213.php" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001213.php" rel="nofollow">[30]</a>

In 2003 White left Lewis' staff and jumped ship to Lowery's law firm. She quickly became one of the highest paid appropriations lobbyists and one of the most successful, earning the name "queen of earmarks".<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/washington/03white.html?ei=5090&en=8028e0b0e0e4445b&ex=1306987200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/03/washington/03white.html?ei=5090&en=8028e0b0e0e4445b&ex=1306987200&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print" rel="nofollow">[31]</a> According to the San Francisco Chronicle<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/15/MNG5CH8NRD1.DTL" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/15/MNG5CH8NRD1.DTL" rel="nofollow">[32]</a>,

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<dd>"Her more than 50 clients, mostly defense contractors and municipalities in California, have been major winners when Congress doles out federal money for special projects in its spending bills.</dd>

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<dd>White's success is driven by her knowledge of the appropriations process and her close ties to Rep. Jerry Lewis, the Southern California Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee."<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/15/MNG5CH8NRD1.DTL" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/15/MNG5CH8NRD1.DTL" rel="nofollow">[33]</a></dd>

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The investigation into Lewis' earmarking practice has focused in on White's role and her lobbying practices. One of White's clients, San Bernardino County, has already been subpoenaed in the investigation. Also at issue are her ties to the contractors that she lobbies for and how those ties reach Lewis.

On June 7, 2006, the New York Times reported that shortly after leaving Lewis’ staff in 2003, White co-purchased a $1 million Washington house with Nicholas Karangelen, president of Trident Systems Inc., a client of the Copeland Lowery Jacques Denton & White lobbying firm.<a href="http://harpers.org/sb-letitia-white-1149628733.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://harpers.org/sb-letitia-white-1149628733.html" rel="nofollow">[34]</a> Trident is one of the many companies that benefited from earmarks on bills originating in the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee chaired by Lewis from 1999 to 2005. In 2002, the company received part of an $8 million joint contract for technology to survey battlefields.<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/washington/07white.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/washington/07white.html" rel="nofollow">[35]</a> In April of 2006, the company recieved $8.4 million in earmarks for a project that was put into an emergency spending bill to fund the Iraqi war.<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060624/news_1n24cozy.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060624/news_1n24cozy.html" rel="nofollow">[36]</a> Lobbying laws require that Karangelen’s contribution towards the Washington house be disclosed if it was a payment to White for services. Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for White, claimed the house transaction was between friends, and in no way related to any, “fee arrangement or work for Trident.”<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/washington/07white.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/07/washington/07white.html" rel="nofollow">[37]</a>

The occupant of the Capitol Hill townhouse is a political action committee chaired by Karangelen called Small Biz Tech PAC. The PAC happens to be run by Lewis' step-daughter, Julia Willis-Leon who runs the PAC from Las Vegas, Nevada.<a href="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000838.php" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000838.php" rel="nofollow">[38]</a> Small Biz Tech PAC's goal is to establish support for small technology businesses by contributing to candidates that support these businesses. The PAC has taken in $115,350 in contributions, but only doled out $15,600.<a href="http://www.latimes.com/la-na-lewis8jun08,0,6589888.story?page=1&coll=la-home-headlines" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.latimes.com/la-na-lewis8jun08,0,6589888.story?page=1&coll=la-home-headlines" rel="nofollow">[39]</a> One-third of the money taken in has gone to pay Willis-Leon's salary of $42,000. Barely topping Willis-Leon's salary is the amount of money that was contributed by Letitia White, her husband, and her clients to the Small Biz Tech PAC. Combined they contributed $46,000.<a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20060607-1613-cnslewis.html" class="external autonumber" title="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20060607-1613-cnslewis.html" rel="nofollow">[40]</a>