House Democratic Leader Seeks Investigation Over a Contract - New York Times

By ANNE E. KORNBLUT
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 - After reports that an Ohio Republican had granted favors to a lobbyist, the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, is requesting an investigation into accusations that a wireless communications company was improperly given a contract to provide services to the House.

An account this week by The Washington Post suggested that Representative Bob Ney of Ohio, chairman of the House Administration Committee, had given preferential treatment to Foxcom, a wireless company with connections to Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist who is under criminal investigation.

"These are serious charges," Ms. Pelosi, Democrat of California, wrote in a letter to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois. She requested that the House inspector general look into the matter.

But Mr. Ney, who took control of the committee in 2001, has said that he had a little role in the project, which relied heavily on the opinions of outside communications companies.

No taxpayer money was used for the new wiring and antenna installation project, which was managed and paid for by telecommunications companies that service the House, so it did not require the usual bidding process.

Documents show that aides to the ranking Democrat on the committee, Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, met with Foxcom on the project, but aides to Mr. Hoyer said he had nothing to do with arranging the deal.

"Extensive internal documentation on this project has been available to any member of Congress who wished to review it," said Brian Walsh, a spokesman for Mr. Ney. "Surprisingly, Ms. Pelosi chose not to do so before launching this partisan attack."