Ileana Ros-Lehtinen says the trip to Israel that drew scrutiny from the New York Times today was cleared ahead of time by the House ethics committee.
The Times wrote this morning that "despite changes intended to curb Congressional junkets, some lawmakers and even their families continue to take trips hosted by private groups and companies that revel in their access to Washington power brokers." It suggested that a 2008 trip Ros-Lehtinen took might have violated House rules, which prohibit lawmakers from taking multiday trips "planned, organized, requested or arranged by a lobbyist."
Ros-Lehtinen said she got clearance first: "My trip to Israel in 2008 was approved in advance by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and was not at taxpayer expense," she said.
The Times reported that the trip was paid by Doheny Global, of Manhattan, which the Times says, "used lawmakers as a lure to attract paying attendance at a meeting in Israel.
"Last year Doheny, an energy and real estate investment firm, invited private equity and energy industry executives to pay $18,500 per person to hobnob with 'an elite cadre' of public and private powerbrokers, including Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, the Florida congresswoman. Doheny paid to fly her and her husband in for the weeklong gathering in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and she appeared in a promotional video calling Irwin G. Katsof, the company’s founder, 'a matchmaker for business' who 'enjoys great credibility in Congress.' "
Says Ros-Lehtinen: "The trip provided me with the opportunity to discuss critical security issues with top Israeli officials, including then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Ambassador Dore Gold. The robust agenda also included a visit to the town of Sderot, a recurring target for attacks by Hamas and other extremists from Gaza ; delivering remarks at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs; and interviews with Israeli journalists. Throughout the trip, I conducted interviews and call-ins to media in my District to keep my constituents informed of my activities. At no time during the trip was I lobbied."
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