Weldon Tells Radio Station He Is Political Victim

27 Oct 2006 // Embattled Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) defended himself this week on a local Philadelphia conservative radio talk show, saying that he is a political target for the FBI, in part due to his often outsider views on national security and terrorism.

“I think I’ve pushed the envelope too hard,” Weldon told WPHT morning-show host Michael Smerconish. “I think this comes out of Washington … The only reason I say it appears suspicious is if there were an investigation I think I would have heard about it in the past two years.”

It was revealed recently that the FBI is investigating Weldon based on a 2004 Los Angeles Times story, which suggested he used his office to improperly direct business to a firm owned by his daughter and a close business associate, whose homes were raided by the FBI last week in the expanding probe.

Weldon has blamed what he dubbed the “liberal attack group” Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and its director Melanie Sloan, for driving the investigation, although there is no evidence to suggest that the group is involved. He also insists that he has a letter from the House ethics committee giving him a clean bill of health, but he has declined to release the letter.

“I have a letter from the ethics committee saying they closed the case,” he said, adding that his lawyer has advised him not to release it. Weldon conceded that he did not know why the letter should not be released if it could bolster his close re-election bid against retired Navy admiral Joe Sestak (D).

“I probably should have another conversation with [my lawyer] on that,” he said.