Font ResizeAn I-Team Investigation
CBS 11 News has learned Congressman Don Young has been interviewed
After the I-Team began asking questions about what hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees was being used for, Young's attorney agreed to talk by phone from his office in Washington.
From his relationship with VECO, to getting a road project in Florida paid for by Congress after a fundraiser, the allegations of impropriety against Congressman Young are becoming numerous.
But did he do anything illegal?
That's what federal authorities are investigating. Defending him in the probe is attorney, John Dowd.
"It's the congressman's view that he wanted to be open and cooperative. He had nothing to hide. So he met with them, answered their questions and has been producing records. And I think we're almost complete (sic) that process," said Dowd.
Dowd wouldn't say whether Young answered questions from FBI agents or other officials at the Department of Justice. Federal campaign records show Young paid Dowd's law firm more than 775,000 dollars last year.
A spokesperson for Young says he has spent more than 213,000 dollars in legal fees in just the first three months of this year.
CBS 11 News wanted to know why it's so expensive, since Young hasn't been charged with a crime. Dowd says the fact that Young is a congressman complicates the process of handing over documents to investigators.
"And so when a separate branch of government asks for materials from a congressman, you have to go through a filter. And that is filter and designate things as speech and debate," said Dowd.
Dowd is referring to the "Speech and Debate clause" in the constitution. It basically protects congressmen from being arrested by a president who doesn't like what they're doing. According to a Department of Justice manual, the Speech and Debate clause "provides absolute immunity" to congressmen when they're "engaged in
Theoretically, Young could've fought the document requests from the Justice Department. But his attorney says Young didn't want to do that.
"Don Young has been just first rate about it. He's instructed us to be open and cooperative and accurate and complete. And that's what we've done," said Dowd.
However, Young has not been open and cooperative with journalists who are investigating this case.
"I don't need to explain anything, especially to you. I don't explain. No. No," said Representative Young at a press conference in February, 2008.
Even the governor has called on Young to explain to the public what's going on.
But he refuses.
"And I think the governor is way out of line in pressing this. You know, the congressman is respecting the process being executed by another independent branch of government. And so he was asked to respect that process and treat it with integrity. And that's what he's doing. And I don't think it's fair to criticize him for that," said Dowd.
Dowd says the Justice Department specifically asked Young not to talk to the media about the case. As for how long the investigation will last, Dowd says he's not sure. He also hasn't been told whether the case has been turned over to a grand jury.
Young's latest campaign finance report is due in Washington Tuesday. It is expected to show that Young spent more than a million dollars in legal fees during his re-election campaign.
To contact Matt, call 907-273-3186.
