Philly Inquirer: "Under investigation by the Justice Department, former U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon has transferred all of his campaign money to a fund he established for his legal defense. ... In December, Weldon's former chief of staff pleaded guilty to failing to report $19,000 that was paid to his wife through another Russian company. The former staffer, Russell James Caso Jr., agreed to cooperate with federal investigators, and the Justice Department said it would not prosecute Caso's wife. The Russian company for which Caso's wife worked is the International Exchange Group, sources said yesterday. ... As a congressman, Weldon had sought a federal grant for the group, the Journal reported. During a 2004 congressional hearing, Weldon said that the International Exchange Group was organized by Russians who 'report directly to [former President Vladimir] Putin.'"

Posted by Laura at June 11, 2008 10:49 AM