Subpoenas issued in probe of Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)

RAW STORY
Published: Monday June 5, 2006

Today's edition of ROLL CALL is reporting that at least four subpoenas have been issued to four clients of alobbying firm in connection with a federal grand jury investigation of Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA).

The registrstion restricted article may be read here.

Excerpts follow:

At least four clients of the lobbying firm Copeland Lowery Jacquez Denton & White have been subpoenaed by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles as part of probe of Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.), the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Federal investigators are looking into the ties between Lewis and former Rep. Bill Lowery (R-Calif.), a partner in Copeland Lowery, and are focusing at this point chiefly on Jeffrey Shockey, the deputy chief of staff for the Appropriations panel who previously worked for the lobbying firm, several sources close to the probe said.

In a statement from Lewis’ office, Riverside County, Calif., was also cited as having been issued a subpoena, although county officials could not be reached for comment on Friday.
Lewis said in a statement that he has “not been contacted by the Justice Department regarding any investigation.” Lewis added: “It is my hope that whatever review that is under way in the 41st Congressional District [of California] will be quickly concluded so that Justice Department investigators can move on to more pressing matters.”

Lewis’ office declined to comment on whether he has hired a criminal defense attorney to assist him during the probe.