TACOMA, WA – To compel release of records and files pertaining to the FBI investigation of Congressman Norm Dicks, Tacoma attorney Doug Cloud filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit last week against the Department of Justice.
Rep. Dicks was investigated as a result of his multi-decade association with PMA Group, a Washington D.C. based lobbying firm whose CEO was found guilty of making illegal campaign contributions to elected officials. Congressman Dicks had received over $500,000 of campaign contributions from PMA Group, its employees, and PMA clients.
Doug Cloud released the following statement concerning the lawsuit:
“It’s unfortunate the Department of Justice is playing politics again, this time to protect Norm Dicks from possible embarrassment. The DOJ has refused to come clean and release the records in question.
They claim there is no overriding public interest in the release of these records. If a possible crime by a senior member of Congress is not a matter of overriding public interest, then no documents in any case should ever be released.
In addition to the PMA Group, Dicks has repeatedly sponsored legislation that conveniently benefits clients directly associated with his former employees and contributors.”
Mr. Dicks has also participated in questionable activity with other lobbying firms like the Spectrum Group, once accepting a free trip on behalf of the lobbying firm.
The complaint was filed in United States District Court for the Western District of Washington on September 28, 2011. Doug Cloud is representing the plaintiffs Philip Watson and Cloud for Congress Committee Inc. as their attorney.
PMA Group CEO guilty of breaking campaign finance laws
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