Calif. congressman subpoenaed in corruption probe

Federal prosecutors have begun an investigation into Rep. Jerry Lewis, the Californian who serves as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, government officials and others said, signaling the spread of a San Diego corruption investigation.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles has issued subpoenas in an investigation into the relationship between Lewis, a Republican from Redlands, Calif., and a Washington lobbyist linked to disgraced former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, three people familiar with the investigation said.

The investigation is part of an expanding federal investigation stemming from Cunningham’s conviction for accepting $2.4 million in bribes and favors from defense contractors, according to the three sources.

It is not clear where the investigation is headed or what evidence the government has. But it suggests that investigators are looking past Cunningham to other legislators and, perhaps, the largely secret “earmarking” system that members of Congress use to allocate funds.

Lewis said Wednesday that he was not aware of any investigation, had not been contacted by any investigator and could not understand why he would be investigated.

“For goodness sake, why would they be doing that?” Lewis said.

The government is looking into the connection between Lewis and longtime friend Bill Lowery, the sources said. Lowery, now a lobbyist, is a former congressman from San Diego.

As chairman of the appropriations panel, Lewis has earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts for many of Lowery’s clients, one of the sources said.

Lewis said he knew Lowery well, having spent 12 years in Congress with him, but he said he never provided favorable treatment to earmarks for Lowery’s clients.

“Absolutely not,” Lewis said. He said all the earmarks he authorized benefited “my constituents and my people.”