Ex-congressman defends his actions

Former Rep. George Nethercutt vehemently denied there was anything improper about his work for Isothermal Systems Research, either while he was in Congress or since he left.

Although he did not comment for the Seattle Times story, he did agree to an interview with The Spokesman-Review when told this newspaper was planning to run the story.

He called the Times report “not newsworthy” and “a cheap shot.” Even though the story acknowledges no laws were broken, it paints him in a bad light by comparing him to former Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., who was convicted of accepting illegal personal gifts, he said.

“Cunningham’s actions were deplorable,” Nethercutt said Friday. “I didn’t receive any contributions other than campaign contributions.”

He insisted his support for ISR while in Congress was no different from his support for local universities, wheat farmers or Fairchild Air Force Base. The company has a valuable product that can help prevent servers from overheating, he said.

“My job was to try to grow the economy of Eastern Washington,” he said. “I did it proudly and unashamedly. I did it every chance I could.”

Campaign contributions from ISR were no different from contributions from any other group who agreed with his stances in Congress, he said. There was no quid pro quo – a point the Times makes early in the story.

His support for ISR, his position on its board after he left Congress and his position as a lobbyist are all public. Although Nethercutt is a registered lobbyist, he said his primary work involved “giving my best advice” to clients who want help understanding government regulations and bureaucratic processes.

“I’m not hanging around Capitol Hill,” he said. “I’ve been there two or three times in the last two years.”