Doolittle: FBI still holding wife's files

5 May 2007 // Nearly three weeks after an FBI search of his Virginia home, U.S. Rep. John Doolittle said his wife Julie's files are still in the hands of investigators.

Doolittle, R-Roseville, has expressed frustration with the timing of the April 13 search and removal of computers and contents of two large filing cabinets.

The computers were returned April 26 but there is no clear indication on when the files will be returned, he said.

On the files - which he says are essentially his wife's client information - Doolittle said he's been informed through his attorney that "they haven't got around to looking at them yet."

"I found that interesting," Doolittle said. "They did inform Julie that she could pick up her iPod but not her cell phone."

Doolittle said during a conference call with the media Thursday that the missing files put his wife's Sierra Dominion Business Solutions at a disadvantage, particularly when it came a day before the deadline to submit tax-return information.

Meanwhile, although Doolittle has stepped down from his Appropriations Committee seat, he re-iterated that he isn't considering a departure from Congress and isn't being steered by others in that direction.

Doolittle has represented the sprawling District 4 in Northern California since 1991. With ethics issues clouding his campaign because of his connections to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, he was seriously tested by Democratic Party challenger Charlie Brown - eventually winning but with just 49 percent of the vote to Brown's 46 percent.

"There is absolutely no pressure to step down - they'd have to drag me out of here," Doolittle said. "There's no way I'm stepping down. Absolutely not."

Doolittle also said he objects to reports that his house was subjected to an FBI raid.

"Raid conjures up visions of people in body armor - they knocked on the door and were admitted to the house by my wife," Doolittle said. "We felt very violated, but when the word 'raid' is mentioned, you think of people with guns drawn and people kicking in the door."

Doolittle said he was closer to establishing a legal defense fund and that he would be establishing one for his wife's legal fees as well.

"How much is needed depends on how far this proceeds," Doolittle said. "We each have attorneys at $500 an hour so the meter running adds up."

Doolittle said he's never raised money for a legal defense fund before and admits frustration over the seemingly slow pace of the probe into files taken from his home.

"I'm sick of it hanging out there and wish they'd fish or cut bait," he said.

Todd Stenhouse, spokesman for Brown, said that last year's Democratic challenger for Doolittle's seat is taking a more patient approach.

"Investigations run their course and in due time this will too," Stenhouse said. "We're simply working to put the era of scandal-plagued politics behind us in this country."

Doolittle said he's expecting to be making a statement before Memorial Day about his take on the circumstances surrounding the search.

He and Julie remain "shocked" that their government would suspect them of committing a crime, Doolittle said.

"We're clear in our consciences," Doolittle said. "It's been going on three years. We're tired of being defamed and it's terribly unfair. There's nothing there and why they don't acknowledge this is beyond me."