Reid: L.A.Times’ story on sons’ lobbying ‘misleading’

Benjamin Grove

Monday, June 23, 2003 | 10:58 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., today called a Los Angeles Times' story that outlines how Reid's lawmaking benefits his four lobbyist and lawyer sons "absolutely misleading."

Reid said he has always done his job in Congress in the best interest of Nevada, not his sons.

"It's stories like this that make people hate the press," Reid said. "Because it is so misleading."

The lengthy front-page story that ran in today's issue of the Times chronicled the connections between Reid's efforts in Congress and the lobbying by firms where Reid's four sons and his son-in-law, Steve Barringer, work. Reid's sons Rory, Leif, Josh and Key work for Nevada's largest law firm, Lionel Sawyer & Collins. Barringer works for Washington consulting firm McClure, Gerard and Neuenschwander.

The Times reported on Saturday that at least 17 senators and 11 members of the House have close relatives who lobby or work as consultants, most in Washington, a practice allowed by congressional rules. Today's story used Reid as a case study of a lawmaker with lobbyist relatives, saying Reid was "in a class by himself."

The story, for example, examines how Reid's pro-gaming and pro-mining stances benefit his sons' firms, because the firms have gaming and mining clients. But Reid said it was "so senseless" to suggest that his stances are influenced by his sons.

"(Lionel Sawyer) has represented gaming interests and mining interests for 35 years," Reid said. "And (the Times) attributes all this to my boys."

Reid aides noted that only Key Reid and Barringer are federal lobbyists lobbying in Washington. Reid told the Sun none of his sons has ever directly lobbied him, although his sons had lobbied Reid staffers until Reid banned that.

The story centers largely on Reid's support for the Clark County Land and Natural Resources Act of 2000, sweeping legislation that both created new protected lands and freed up land for developers. The bill was full of benefits for developers, corporations and other special interests that were paying hundreds of thousands to the lobby firms of Reid's sons, the Times' story said.

But Reid said it was "so unfair" to suggest his support was rooted in his sons' firms' advocacy. Reid said every player involved in the planning of the legislation supported it -- including the rest of the Nevada delegation and environmentalists.

Reid also noted that a land deal that was part of the legislation that benefited Howard Hughes Corp. was originally introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev. Hughes paid Barringer's firm to push for the deal.

"I'm not a dictator here," Reid said. "I have to work with other members of the delegation. I'm proud of my work on this bill. I'm grateful that this was a team effort. I don't apologize for any provision of that piece of legislation."

Former Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., a partner at Lionel Sawyer, defended Reid. He said Key Reid, who operates a Washington office of the firm, is a salaried employee and did not benefit from any legislation his father had advocated. Bryan also noted that his firm had attracted some new clients, but said he had more to do with that than the fact that the firm's staff included a Reid son.

"Not to denegrate Key in any way, but I am out there trying to solicit new clients," Bryan said.