May 3, 2004
Campbell
Probe Sought
By
Amy Keller and Damon Chappie
A former spokesman for
the White House drug czar asked the Justice Department to investigate
the
awarding of a $1.5 million no-bid contract sought by Sen. Ben
Nighthorse
Campbell (R-Colo).
Robert Weiner, who
worked
for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy from 1995 to
2001,
has asked Attorney General John Ashcroft to look into whether a top
official on
the staff was forced out after he objected to the awarding of the
contract.
The Denver Post
reported
last month that Campbell, who had served on the Senate Appropriations
subcommittee funding ONDCP, had twice pressed in letters for a no-bid
contract
to go to an Oregon-based computer company. That firm had hired a top
Denver-based lobbying shop with close ties to Campbell that contributed
heavily
to his re-election campaign.
Al Brandenstein,
director
of the White House Counterdrug Technology Center, objected to the
contract,
calling it “improper.” He was demoted and retired from his position
last month.