Federal prosecutors have disclosed a 2008 FBI investigation of indicted Nevada power broker Harvey Whittemore and longtime friend Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The investigation, conducted by the FBI’s Washington field office, was sparked by media reports about Reid’s role in helping Whittemore’s Coyote Springs master- planned community north of Las Vegas clear government hurdles. It did not result in criminal charges against either man.

Whittemore’s defense lawyers want a federal judge to allow testimony about the investigation at his federal trial next month on charges of unlawfully funneling $138,000 in campaign contributions to Reid in 2007. Prosecutors have said the Nevada Democrat was unaware of the alleged scheme.

Defense lawyers, led by Dominic Gentile and Vincent Savarese, argued in court papers filed this week that the 2008 investigation shows Whittemore had no criminal intent to make illegal campaign contributions.

Whittemore, 59, was once a top Nevada legislative lobbyist. He was indicted last June on four felony charges, including making excessive contributions and lying to the FBI and the Federal Election Commission. His trial is set for May 14 before Senior U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno.

The indictment alleges Whittemore met with Reid in February 2007 and agreed to raise $150,000 for him by a March 31 campaign finance deadline.

Whittemore unlawfully used family members and associates as conduits for contributions to the senator’s campaign and then reimbursed them, the indictment alleges.

Prosecutors originally disclosed the 2008 investigation in papers filed under seal in the current case and later provided a copy to Whittemore’s lawyers, who made them public in defense motions on Monday.

The Review-Journal obtained copies of the documents from the federal court’s electronic docket Tuesday morning, but later in the day, they were removed after prosecutors objected. The defense motions were later re-posted, without the government papers disclosing the 2008 investigation.

papers now sealed

Those papers, co-signed by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre and Eric Olshan, a trial attorney with the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section in Washington, now are sealed.

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Read more:http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/crime-...whittemore-2008

Harry Reid's story is truly an inspiring "rags to riches" tale.

Born poor in the backwater town of Searchlight, Nevada, his brilliance and skill propelled him eventually to the United States Senate, where he serves admirably as Senate Majority Leader.

And his financial wizardry has enabled him to become a multi-millionaire on a mere Senator's salary. Truly - Reid is a brilliant man.

His story should inspire us all.

He was also the corrupt state senator in the Casino movie. Not many people know that.

Quote: Rufus T Firefly wrote in post #2

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Harry Reid's story is truly an inspiring "rags to riches" tale.

Born poor in the backwater town of Searchlight, Nevada, his brilliance and skill propelled him eventually to the United States Senate, where he serves admirably as Senate Majority Leader.

And his financial wizardry has enabled him to become a multi-millionaire on a mere Senator's salary. Truly - Reid is a brilliant man.

His story should inspire us all.

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Quote: Rufus T Firefly wrote in post #2

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Harry Reid's story is truly an inspiring "rags to riches" tale.

Born poor in the backwater town of Searchlight, Nevada, his brilliance and skill propelled him eventually to the United States Senate, where he serves admirably as Senate Majority Leader.

And his financial wizardry has enabled him to become a multi-millionaire on a mere Senator's salary. Truly - Reid is a brilliant man.

His story should inspire us all.

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