The political world is abuzz over a major “scoop” from the [tag]AP[/tag] about [tag]Harry Reid[/tag] and some alleged improprieties. As congressional [tag]scandal[/tag]s go, it’s about as vapid and meaningless as a story can get. The AP should be embarrassed for running it.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.) accepted [tag]free[/tag] [tag]ringside[/tag] [tag]tickets[/tag] from the [tag]Nevada Athletic Commission[/tag] to three professional [tag]boxing[/tag] matches while that state agency was trying to influence him on federal regulation of boxing.
Reid took the free seats for Las Vegas fights between 2003 and 2005 as he was pressing legislation to increase government oversight of the sport, including the creation of a federal boxing commission that Nevada’s agency feared might usurp its authority.
The AP’s [tag]John Solomon[/tag] goes on to explain that the Senate’s [tag]ethics[/tag] rules “specifically warn against taking such gifts — particularly on multiple occasions — when they might be connected to efforts to influence official actions.”
So, is there anything to this? Not even a little. In fact, the closer one looks at the details, the better [tag]Reid[/tag] looks.
First, Reid got the tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission, a state government agency, so there’s no ethics violation. Second, after accepting the tickets, Reid voted against the interests of the Commission, not for them, which was consistent with Reid’s position on the issue (in this case, increased regulations) all along. You can’t have a scandal when the lawmaker accepts a gift and then does the opposite of what the gift-giver wants.
It’s also worth noting that this same writer, the AP’s John [tag]Solomon[/tag], is the same reporter who wrote a fairly absurd article that attempted to link Reid to Jack [tag]Abramoff[/tag] — but left out key facts. It was sloppy reporting, but instead of taking Solomon off Reid’s beat, the AP runs another item pointing to a non-existent controversy.
The truth is Reid is clean. He’s always been clean. In the 1970s, when he was chair of the Nevada Gaming Commission, Reid worked with the FBI to catch mobsters who were trying to bribe officials.
There had been a decrease in Mob activity, but organized crime was again investing in Las Vegas, and for four years Reid confronted wiseguys like Tony (the Ant) Spilotro, who had been sent to Las Vegas by a Chicago branch of La Cosa Nostra, “the Outfit,” and was known for killing his victims by squeezing their heads in a vise. In 1979, Reid barred Spilotro from all casinos.
In July of 1978, a man named Jack Gordon, who was later married to LaToya Jackson, offered Reid twelve thousand dollars to approve two new, carnival-like gaming devices for casino use. Reid reported the attempted bribe to the F.B.I. and arranged a meeting with Gordon in his office. By agreement, F.B.I. agents burst in to arrest Gordon at the point where Reid asked, “Is this the money?” Although he was taking part in a sting, Reid was unable to control his temper; the videotape shows him getting up from his chair and saying, “You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me!” and attempting to choke Gordon, before startled agents pulled him off. (emphasis added)
Josh Marshall suggested that the AP’s Solomon might be “developing something of an [tag]Ahab[/tag] complex with that Great White Whale of the Senate, Harry Reid.” It’s hard to believe otherwise. In this case, however, the AP and Solomon will have to go fishing somewhere else.