Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Crooked politician, crooked friends


Harry Reid / AP
Harry Reid / AP
BY: 


The FBI investigated Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) in 2008 after media reports of Reid’s role in developing a planned community north of Las Vegas for Harvey Whittemore, a longtime friend of the senator and top Nevada lobbyist, the Las Vegas Review Journal reports.
The investigation did not result in criminal charges against either man.
Whittemore faces a federal trial next month for four felony charges, including unlawful, excessive contributions amounting to $138,000 to Sen. Reid.
Whittemore’s development appears to have overcome a number of obstacles thanks to Reid’s help.
The development had to overcome several obstacles, including county water issues and federal land issues.
In 2004, Reid and other members of Nevada’s congressional delegation pushed through a lands bill that moved a utility corridor away from Whittemore’s land, among other provisions favorable to the developer.
Reid’s son Leif, an attorney, represented Whittemore on the Coyote Springs project.
Coyote Springs’ development has since stalled because of the housing crash and economic recession.

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