January 3, 2007

 

Statement of Chairman Doc Hastings and Ranking Minority Member Howard L. Berman Regarding Representative Tom Feeney

 

Representative Tom Feeney contacted the Committee in March 2005 after media reports regarding a trip he had taken to Scotland in August 2003.  The media reports concerned allegations that the trip was paid for by lobbyist Jack Abramoff, rather than the trip sponsor he had reported, and that the trip may have been substantially recreational in nature, contrary to House rules.    The expenses for the trip were reported by Representative Feeney as $5,643. After Representative Feeney voluntarily provided additional information to the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member regarding the trip, we concluded that the trip did not comply with House rules and Representative Feeney has agreed to resolve the matter by paying the cost of the trip to the United States Treasury.   Provided that the payment is made, and that the Committee receives no additional information requiring further inquiry, the matter will remain closed.