Well, looky here...
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid accepted free ringside tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission to three professional boxing matches while that state agency was trying to influence him on federal regulation of boxing.
Reid, D-Nev., 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.
He defended the gifts, saying they would never influence his position on the bill and was simply trying to learn how his legislation might affect an important home state industry. "Anyone from Nevada would say I'm glad he is there taking care of the state's No. 1 businesses," he told The Associated Press.
"I love the fights anyways, so it wasn't like being punished," added the senator, a former boxer and boxing judge.
Senate ethics rules generally allow lawmakers to accept gifts from federal, state or local governments, but specifically warn against taking such gifts _ particularly on multiple occasions _ when they might be connected to efforts to influence official actions.
...Reid broadly defended his actions, stating he would never change his position because of donations, free tickets or a request from a former-staffer-turned-lobbyist.
"People who deal with me and have over the years know that I am an advocate for what I believe in. I always try to do it fair, never take advantage of people on purpose," he said.
Asked if he would have done anything differently, the Senate Democratic leader said his only concern was "the willingness of the press ... to take these instances and try to make a big deal out of them."
Oh, poor baby.
The press has a "willingness" to make a big deal out of bribes and that concerns Reid.
Was he concerned about ABC targeting Dennis Hastert?
Reid shouldn't be worried about the Old Media. They'll cover for him.
Several ethics experts said they believed Reid should have paid for the boxing tickets to avoid violating Senate ethics rules.
I don't think you need to be an ethics expert to figure out that Reid should not have accepted a gift that looks like a bribe.
...Marc Ratner, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission when Reid took the free tickets, said one of his desires was to convince Reid and McCain that there was no need for the federal government to usurp the state commission's authority. At the time, McCain and Reid were pushing legislation to create a federal boxing commission.
"I invited him because I was talking with his staff" about the legislation, Ratner said. "This was a chance for all of my commissioners, who are politically appointed, to interact with them. It was important for them to see how we in Nevada did things.
"I am a states rights activist and I didn't want any federal bill that would take away our state rights to regulate fights," he said, adding that he hoped McCain and Reid, at the very least, would be persuaded to model any federal commission after Nevada's body.
Reid said he remembered talking to Ratner briefly at the fights and knew Ratner was working with his Senate staff on the federal legislation.
Calling Brian Ross...
There's an irresistible "Culture of Corruption" story that is just perfect for him.
Actually, it's not perfect for Ross. It's almost perfect.
The story has all the elements that should prompt Ross to start salivating and blasting away at Reid.
The problem for Ross: Reid is a Dem.
In other words, don't look for any breathless report from ABC about Senate MINORITY leader Reid.
Don't expect any "sources" to give up information about Reid being under investigation or "in the mix."
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