Aide calls request for inquiry 'baseless,' denies ties to Abramoff clients

03:11 PM EDT on Thursday, April 20, 2006

By Todd J. Gillman / The Dallas Morning News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A watchdog group demanded a federal investigation of Rep. Pete Sessions on Wednesday, accusing the Dallas Republican of misusing his office to aid clients of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and steering contracts to a defense firm, both in exchange for campaign donations.

"It's baseless," said Sessions chief of staff Guy Harrison, adding that the five-term congressman hasn't hired a lawyer or heard from federal investigators and isn't worried. "There's a lot of innuendo here."

A letter to Attorney General Al Gonzales from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, D.C. — a group best known for dogging former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land — accused Mr. Sessions of trying to block Indian casinos in East Texas and Louisiana on behalf of Abramoff clients that viewed those gaming facilities as competitors.

Mr. Sessions and other lawmakers wrote to two Cabinet members in late 2001 and early 2002, urging them to kill the new casinos. Within 18 months, he received $20,500 in campaign donations from tribes affiliated with Mr. Abramoff.

Mr. Harrison said the congressman's stance stemmed from concern about states' rights to regulate gambling, and other lawmakers had asked Mr. Sessions to join the fight.

"They endorsed us. We didn't endorse them," Mr. Harrison said of the tribal donors, adding that the lobbyist — who has confessed to corruption charges — could have arranged for the donations without Mr. Sessions' knowledge.

Justice Department spokesman Drew Wade said the department reviews all complaints "and takes the appropriate action."

Republicans consider the watchdog group to be a Democratic attack machine, noting that executive director Melanie Sloan and other staffers have worked for Democratic officials and most of its targets have been Republicans.

The group also raised questions about an Abramoff-arranged trip Mr. Sessions took to Malaysia, alleging that he showed little prior interest in the country. Mr. Harrison noted the trip took place months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. U.S. officials wanted to strengthen ties with a key Muslim ally, and Mr. Sessions founded a Malaysia caucus to pursue that goal.

A final allegation involves Promia Inc., a San Francisco-based firm that won an $800,000 Navy contract in May 2000 to develop a cyber-security system. Mr. Sessions advocated for an $8 million contract. Mr. Harrison said that stemmed from his work with another caucus aimed at addressing emerging cyber threats. He made "introductions" but had no direct hand in any contract.

Promia executives have donated $55,000 to Mr. Sessions starting in fall 2000, campaign records show, and the company hired a senior Sessions aide in 2003. Company president John Mullen denied any quid pro quo, saying, "We've done everything correctly and according to the law." He noted that the 40-employee company won its contracts through open bidding.