Is Harry Reid dirty?

To help understand the Senator a bit better, in 2003 the L.A. Times offered the Harry Reid expose "In Nevada, Reid Is the Name to Know".

A few days ago that same paper offered yet another expose of Dingy Harry's questionable dealings: "Desert Connections".

...One of the most inhospitable places in the country, Coyote Springs Valley is so barren that, until recently, its best use was thought to be as a weapons test range.

Yet the valley - an hour northeast of Las Vegas - is on its way to becoming a real estate development of historic proportions, with as many as 159,000 homes, 16 golf courses and a full complement of stores and service facilities. At nearly 43,000 acres, Coyote Springs covers almost twice as much space as the next-largest development in a state famous for outsized building projects.

...Helping make Coyote Springs come alive was an alliance between a multimillionaire developer [Harvey Whittemore] and one of the highest-ranking members of Congress: Nevada Democrat Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader and a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

...Over the last four years, Reid has used his influence in Washington to help the developer, Nevada super-lobbyist Whittemore, clear obstacles from Coyote Springs' path.

At one point, Reid proposed opening the way for Whittemore to develop part of the site for free — something for which the developer later agreed to pay the government $10 million.

As the project advanced, Reid received tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Whittemore. The contributions not only went to Reid's Senate campaigns, but also to his leadership fund, which he used to help bankroll the campaigns of Democratic colleagues...

Whittemore also helped advance the legal careers of two of Reid's four sons. One of the two, Leif Reid, who is Whittemore's personal lawyer, has represented the developer throughout the Coyote Springs project, including in negotiations with federal officials...

There's much more at the link.

Previously:
Harry Reid wants amnesty for illegal aliens who are taking jobs that could go to Katrina victims
"Harry Reid Tied to Chinagate Figure"
Congress: $4 million for National Council of The Race
"Reid Aided Abramoff Clients, Records Show"
Harry Reid strongly opposed illegal immigration. In 1993.
Harry Reid perpetuates illegal alien "Catch and Release"

Politics · Wed, 08/23/2006 - 09:22 · · Importance: 1