I'm not sure why the Ithaca Journal isn't keeping up with this, but the Oneonta Daily Star has more news on the investigations of improper gifts to State Senator Jim Seward and Congressman Sherwood Boehlert.
The gift-givers, Walter Rich and his New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway, don't seem interested in cooperating with the investigation:
"They have asked for information that involves purely fundraising activities over which they have no jurisdiction," said Jim Featherstonhaugh, attorney for the railway, adding he is fighting the request. "We today (Tuesday) received a letter asking for more information than was originally provided pursuant to that subpoena. The letter stated if the information was not provided ... they would seek to enforce the subpoena."
...Featherstonhaugh said the investigation appears to be focusing on popular political fundraisers held at Rich's railroad-owned residence each year during the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies weekend. Specifically, the commission asked for information involving fundraisers for state Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, Gov. George Pataki and Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-New Hartford, in 2004 and 2005, Featherstonhaugh said.
State campaign-finance filings indicate a partial payment for the 2004 fundraiser for Seward amounted to an illegally excessive contribution by Rich's railway. The filing was recently amended to indicate the payment was instead legally made by Rich's Fund for Better Transportation Political Action Committee.
The NYSW, incidentally, runs just to the east of Dryden, through Marathon, Cortland, and Homer.
Posted by simon at February 10, 2006 6:58 PM in politics (national)