John E. Sweeney

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In August 2006, Sweeney's allies filed successfully against signatures on Libertarian opponent Eric Sundwall's ballot petitions, resulting in Sundwall's name being removed from the general election ballot. However, Sweeney still lost the general election on November 7, 2006, to Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand with 47% of the vote.

Political activity after leaving Congress

Following his congressional tenure, Sweeney returned to the political process both locally and nationally as an election and compliance lawyer and strategist.

In 2012, Sweeney worked for Newt Gingrich's unsuccessful campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

In April 2016, Sweeney was hired by Donald Trump's campaign to help organize New York during the primary and do compliance work. [22]

After Trump's election day victory, Sweeney, as the campaign's deputy counsel, led the effort on the ground in Wisconsin and Michigan to protect the campaign's advantage in those two key swing states during the recounts initiated by Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, and supported by Hillary Clinton's campaign. [23]

In December 2016, Sweeney joined the executive committee of Trump's transition team. [24] Sweeney was later promoted to a four-member "Tiger Team" for Trump, tasked with conducting interviews with potential nominees for ambassadorships and other high-level positions in various federal departments and agencies. [25] [26]

Controversies

Role in Florida recount in 2000

During the 2000 election, Sweeney allegedly helped earn his nickname from President Bush, "Congressman Kick-Ass," by organizing the so-called Brooks Brothers riot that disrupted the Florida elections commissioners. [27] He was said to have led the charge on the third recount in Miami, flying in GOP operatives and instructing them to "shut it down!" by raising a clamor and pounding on the election commission's doors. [28] Sweeney used the words "thugs" to describe the Florida officials involved in the recount. He defended his actions in connection with the incident as "completely and absolutely legitimate" and declared that his intent was only to stop the canvassing board from withdrawing its activities from public view. [29]

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie, in his book Winning Right, wrote that the night before the recount began in Miami-Dade County, Sweeney was one of about a dozen Bush campaign operatives who gathered at Joe's Stone Crab in South Beach, that set out the campaign's media strategy. Gillespie recalled that Sweeney said, 'I know what I'm going to say tomorrow morning. 'I'm going to say that Joseph Stalin said, 'It doesn't matter who casts the votes, it only matters who counts the votes.' And these people are worse than Stalin.' He ended up holding the Stalin quotation until the 5:30 pm wrap-up." [30]

Congressional ethics controversies

In September 2006, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) included Sweeney on its annual list of "The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress," citing ethical concerns arising from a "ski trip to New York, the exchange of legislative assistance for campaign contributions and the hiring of his wife as a campaign fundraiser." [31]

Wife as fundraiser

On April 11, 2003, Sweeney began paying a company called Creative Consulting for fund-raising. The company had been founded a day earlier by Gaia "Gayle" Ford. Between April 2003 and December 2003, Sweeney's campaign paid $42,570 to the firm. Sweeney proposed to Ford in September 2003 [32] and married her in 2004.

Sweeney spokeswoman Melissa Carlson said the congressman considers his wife "his best representative in the district when he's fund-raising." She said Ford, who had no previous fund-raising experience, receives a 10 percent commission on whatever she raises. Between January 2005 and April 2006, Ford was paid $30,879. Sweeney also has had a fundraising consultant on monthly retainer since June 2004, who is paid $8,583 a month.

Ford also works for Powers & Company, the lobbying firm of former state GOP Chairman William Powers, Sweeney's longtime political ally and onetime boss. [33]

Publicly funded ski trips

The Winter Challenge was started in 1998 by Sweeney's House predecessor, Gerald Solomon, with the declared purpose of showcasing the Olympic facilities at Lake Placid, New York to congressmen and their staffers in hopes of getting federal funds; Sweeney has hosted the annual event since 1999.

In January 2006, Sweeney, his wife, and about 60 other people spent a four-day weekend at the facilities, competing against each other in skating, downhill skiing and bobsledding events. The group included Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX), a close friend of Sweeney [34] and his wife; and aides to U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Representative Randy Kuhl (R-NY), and Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI). [35] [36] The weekend cost the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) $27,500, plus in-kind services it provided and the costs of operating the Olympic venues for the competition (exact figures for the latter two were unavailable). [37] ORDA is a part of the New York State government. [38]

In the fall of 2005, the House ethics panel told Sweeney in a letter that he should be careful to let the Olympics groups invite guests to avoid the appearance of an endorsement by the House. [35] "Once the ORDA and the U.S. Olympic Committee — without your involvement — have issued an initial invitation to House members and staff to take part in the trip, you may send a follow-up to that invitation", the ethics panel, known formally as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, wrote to Sweeney. [38]

Invitations to the event officially come from ORDA and the U.S. Olympic Committee, a nonprofit group chartered by Congress. ORDA says the impetus for the event comes from the U.S. Olympic Committee. The U.S. Olympic Committee said it's really Sweeney's event. [35] Three committees of the NY State Assembly have launched investigations of the Challenge, focusing on whether public money was put to good use. ORDA President Ted Blazer, speaking at one such hearing, said Sweeney's office helped assemble lists of possible invitees to the event. [38]

Documents show that at least eight members of Congress, all Republicans, were also invited to attend the 2006 event but declined. [38]

The official invitation for the event read: "While this trip has proven itself to be an enjoyable one for delegation members in the past, it is, nevertheless, an official trip authorized by the House and Senate Ethics Committees . . . intended to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress and Congressional staff to inspect and evaluate the manner in which federal funds have been used to strengthen the area's tourism industry." [35]

Despite the House ethics rule requiring all travel paid by others to relate to members' official duties, and the ethics panel's letter that said that recreational activities must be "merely incidental to the trip", Sweeney has said that the panel said "it's perfectly appropriate for me to promote the event." [38]

The group attending the event included at least 15 registered lobbyists, including Pete Card, a former staffer of Sweeney's and the brother of former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, and Lisi Kaufman, a lobbyist for United Technologies Corporation, the sister of Andrew and Pete. [35] [36] [39] In his request to the House ethics committee, Sweeney did not ask about lobbyists. [40] A spokesman for ORDA said he does not know why the lobbyists were invited. [36]

Seven of the lobbyists had contributed a total of $12,400 to Sweeney's campaign in 2005. [41]

Ties to Allen Stanford

Sweeney was part of a group of lawmakers known as the Caribbean Caucus, sponsored by disgraced financier Allen Stanford. The group, formed to promote relations with Caribbean nations, took 11 trips to places like St. Croix, Montego Bay and Key Biscayne. The meetings, which included receptions with lobster, caviar and wine, cost $311,307 and were paid for by the Inter-American Economic Council, a non-profit funded by Stanford. Other members of the Caucus included convicted influence peddler Rep. Bob Ney and close Sweeney friend Rep. Pete Sessions. In 2004, Stanford hosted a wedding reception for Sweeney and wife at the Pavilion Restaurant, owned by Stanford. At the time, Sweeney told the Antigua Sun "If it wasn't for Allen, I certainly would not be here today." [42]

Disputed domestic violence report

On October 31, 2006, the Albany Times Union reported on a 9-1-1 call made by Sweeney's wife in December 2005, in which she complained that her husband had been "'knocking her around' during a late-night argument at the couple's home." The responding officers filed a domestic incident report, which states that Sweeney allegedly grabbed his wife "by the neck" and pushed her around the house. [43] [44]

John and Gaia Sweeney subsequently said they would give the New York State Police permission to release a report about the incident. They said that the report was inaccurate but have not disputed its contents. [45] On November 17, 2006, the Times Union reported that there were two versions of the domestic violence report that had been prepared by the State Police, one that was sent to them, doctored and lacking details, and the original report. [46]

On July 22, 2007, the Albany Times Union reported that Gaia Sweeney, who was contesting a divorce action by her husband, said that he was often verbally abusive and at times physically abused her during their marriage. She also said that a statement she made on the eve of last fall's election, denying marital abuse, was "coerced". Sweeney denied that he had been abusive; he had recently obtained a judicial order of protection against his wife. [47]

Sweeney's first wife, Betty Sweeney, of Schaghticoke, told the Times-Union that she had "never observed any kind of behavior like that towards me or anybody else." [47]

The State Police moved to demote a State Police captain weeks after the November 2006 election, alleging that he had leaked the police report on Sweeney. [48] The captain denied leaking the report, saying he was wrongly accused, and the captain was supported by the New York State Police Benevolent Association (PBA), [48] [49] who called the captain a scapegoat. [49] The officer was ultimately not demoted, but was transferred to a different role that resulted in lower pay. [49]

Alcohol issues

Attendance at college fraternity party

In April 2006, news outlets reported that Sweeney had attended a party at Union College's Alpha Delta Phi house in Schenectady; photographs surfaced of the congressman at the party, and the student newspaper Concordiensis cited witnesses stating that he was visibly intoxicated. [50] Democrats ridiculed Sweeney over the embarrassing photos; [50] Sweeney said through a spokeswoman that he had briefly spoken to students and posed for photos before departing, and that he was not drinking during the event. [51]

DWI convictions in 2007 and 2009

Sweeney was charged with aggravated DWI when he was arrested by New York State Police at 1:19 a.m. on November 11, 2007, on the Adirondack Northway, a stretch of Interstate 87. Sweeney's car had reportedly been swerving and a 24-year-old woman was seated partially on his lap when spotted by a state trooper. [52] [5] [53] Sweeney's blood alcohol content registered at .18 percent, more than double the legal limit. [53] Sweeney issued an apology, [52] and on November 14, 2007, Sweeney pleaded guilty to drunk driving after his attorney vocally and publicly denied he had even been drinking that evening. Sweeney paid a US$1,000 fine, but avoided jail time. His license was suspended for six months and had to attend a victim impact panel for drunken drivers. [54]

Early on the morning of April 5, 2009, Sweeney was pulled over by state police for speeding. [5] He refused a breathalyzer test ordered by the officer, and according to a newspaper report, "Sweeney allegedly told the officers he would not pass the sobriety test, adding he was in 'big trouble.'" [5] Sweeney was charged with felony DWI (since he had a prior DWI conviction within the past 10 years). [5] in a February 2010 plea deal, Sweeney admitted to driving drunk and pleaded guilty to lesser charges, [55] specifically a misdemeanor count. [56] The agreement allowed Sweeney to avoid a felony conviction and thus avoid disbarment. [56] [57] He was sentenced to 30 days in county jail, [55] and was released in April 2010 after serving 17 days. [57] In addition to jail, Sweeney was also sentenced to three years of probation, 300 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $2,000 in fines and surcharges. [55] His driver's license was revoked, and Sweeney also had to wear an ankle bracelet to detect alcohol consumption. [55] [58]

Recovery from alcoholism

In 2011, Sweeney told a reporter that he had been sober since April 6, 2009. [56] He stated that others had spoken to him about his drinking since the late 1990s and that he had been a "highly functional alcoholic" during his career in elected office. [56] He described making amends with his family, describing his biggest loss from drinking as not the loss of his seat in Congress, but "the loss of myself and the loss of everything that went with it, the harm and hurt I created for people around me who I love and love me." [56]

2019 Troy Mayoral Election

In November 2019, leaked audio from a verbally abusive private meeting between McLaughlin, several of his top political and governmental aides, Sweeney, and then-Republican candidate for Troy mayor Thomas Reale, was published by the Times Union. [59] During the meeting, McLaughlin, County Director of Operations Richard Christ, County Director of Purchasing James Gordon, and Sweeney pressured Reale to drop out of the mayoral race and endorse Rodney Wiltshire, a third-party candidate defeated in the Democratic primary by incumbent Democratic Mayor Patrick Madden. Mr. Reale remained in the race and was defeated by Madden in the general election.

Personal life

Sweeney has three adult children from his first marriage. He lives in Clifton Park, New York. He has two young children with his wife, Erin, and two step-children from her prior marriage. [60] [61]

Sweeney's father was the leader of a shirt-cutter's union in Troy, NY. [62]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Lawyer John Sweeney - Albany, NY Attorney - Avvo". Archived from the original on 2018-01-08.
  2. ↑ "SWEENEY, John E. - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  3. ↑ "20 things you don't know about me: John Sweeney". 3 December 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Guy Who Gored Al: The irresistible ascension of John E. Sweeney," Toby Eglund, theGully.com
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Bob Gardiner, "Sweeney to cops: 'I'm in... trouble': Ex-Congressman faces felony DWI; told troopers he'd flunk sobriety test," Albany Times Union found at Times Union story of 4-7-09 Archived April 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine . Accessed April 7, 2009.
  6. ↑ Dan Lonkevich, "N.Y. Gov. Signs Workers' Comp. Reform Into Law," Property Casualty 360, September 23, 1996, http://www.propertycasualty360.com/1996/09/23/ny-gov-signs-workers-comp-reform-into-law Archived November 19, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "Workers Compensation Reform, The Vermont Legislative Research Shop, The University of Vermont
  8. ↑ Joseph Crowley, "New Faces in the Congress", The New York Times, November 4, 1998
  9. ↑ Jonathan P. Hicks, "New York's Congressional Freshmen Are New to the House, but Not to Politics", The New York Times, November 7, 1998
  10. ↑ "The Guy Who Gored Al: The irresistible ascension of John E. Sweeney," Toby Eglund, The Gully
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Greg Giroux, Party Loyalty Often Sacrificed by At-risk House Incumbents, The New York Times (September 27, 2006).
  12. ↑ Raymond Hernandez, Call to Ban Gay Marriage Is Dividing Republicans, The New York Times (February 28, 2004).
  13. 1 2 David Staba, Race Profile: The 20th District in New York, The New York Times (2006).
  14. ↑ Diane Cardwell, Mayor Gives Scorn to Guns, and Money to Their Allies, The New York Times (May 14, 2006).
  15. 1 2 3 "John Sweeney on the Issues". OnTheIssues.org. Retrieved July 22, 2006.
  16. ↑ NY gets more aid from Congress, United Press International, (November 17, 2001).
  17. ↑ Edward Wyatt, David W. Chen, Charles Bagli and Raymond Hernandez, < After 9/11, Parcels of Money, and Dismay, The New York Times (December 30, 2002).
  18. ↑ "H.R.196 - Anti-Drug Legalization Act: 107th Congress (2001-2002)". Congress.gov. 13 February 2001.
  19. ↑ "H.R.278 - Anti-Drug Legalization Act: 106th Congress (1999-2000)". Congress.gov. 9 February 1999.
  20. ↑ "Hinchey-Rohrabacher Roll Call Vote, 2006". SafeAccessNow.org. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
  21. ↑ Matthew J. Rosenberg, The 1998 Elections: Around the Region – New Faces In the Congress, The New York Times (November 4, 1998).
  22. ↑ Haberman, Maggie (April 6, 2016). "Donald Trump to hold large rally on Long Island". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  23. ↑ Flood, Hannah (3 December 2016). "Lawsuit attempts to end Wisconsin recount" . Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Former U.S. Rep. John Sweeney joins Trump's executive transition team". 15 December 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Ex-Congressman Sweeney of Clifton Park vets Trump staff". 12 January 2017.
  26. ↑ "Trump advisor Sweeney is 'happy to be home' - Capitol Confidential". 26 January 2017.
  27. ↑ Robert Parry, "Bush's Conspiracy to Riot", Consortium for Independent Journalism, August 5, 2002
  28. ↑ Michael Tomasky, "Pol Versus Pole" Archived June 14, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , New York Magazine, March 19, 2001
  29. ↑ Timothy Noah, "Sweeney and the Siege of Miami", Slate Magazine, November 28, 2000
  30. ↑ Ed Gillespie, "Winning Right," pp. 101-102
  31. ↑ CREW summary of ethics issues of Sweeney Archived October 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , September 2006
  32. ↑ Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Newsday, September 18, 2003
  33. ↑ Elizabeth Benjamin, "For politicians, family ties can include payroll: Sweeney's wife is among the ranks of relatives on legislators' staffs", Albany Times-Union, May 8, 2005
  34. ↑ "Judy Holland, On the Hill, the sound of silence: John Sweeney, still reeling from re-election loss to Kirsten Gillibrand, fails to show for votes" Archived January 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine , Albany Times-Union, December 10, 2006
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Breidenbach, Michelle (March 26, 2006). "Congressmen, staff, lobbyists share a winter weekend on public's dime". Syracuse Post-Standard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2006.
  36. 1 2 3 "Guess who came to dinner; guess who paid". Syracuse Post-Standard. March 30, 2006. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2006.
  37. ↑ Rauch, Ned P. (July 11, 2006). "Legitimacy of ORDA event questioned". PressRepublican.com . Retrieved July 22, 2006.[ dead link ]
  38. 1 2 3 4 5 Schor, Elana (July 18, 2006). "State Assembly questions funding of Sweeney's trips to Lake Placid". The Hill . Retrieved July 22, 2006.[ dead link ]
  39. ↑ Karlin, Rick (June 21, 2006). "Capitol Confidential — Yes, There Will Be News In July". Albany Times-Union blog. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2006.
  40. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (July 11, 2006). "Capitol Confidential — ORDA/NYPA et al". Albany Times-Union blog. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved July 23, 2006.
  41. ↑ Thompson, Maury (April 3, 2006). "Sweeney ski guests contributed $12,400 to his re-election campaign (web page Google cached)". The Post-Star . Archived from the original on May 11, 2006. Retrieved July 23, 2006.
  42. ↑ Sallah, Michael; Barry, Rob (December 27, 2009). "Feds probe banker Allen Stanford's ties to Congress". Miami Herald . Retrieved December 27, 2009.
  43. ↑ Lyons, Brendan (October 31, 2006). "Congressman's wife called 911". Albany Times Union. Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved October 31, 2006.
  44. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2006-11-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  45. ↑ Archived 2008-06-04 at the Wayback Machine "Story not found -- StoryID: 531156 -- Times Union - Albany NY". Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  46. ↑ Lyons, Brendan J. (November 17, 2006). "Bid to 'lock up' Sweeney report describtied". Albany Times Union. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved November 17, 2006.
  47. 1 2 Gurnett, Kate (July 22, 2006). "Sweeney's wife claims he abused her: Says she fears for her life and that election eve denial was "coerced"". Albany Times Union. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  48. 1 2 "Police Captain Demoted for Leaking Sweeney Report," News Channel 10 ABC, November 16, 2006, http://news10.com/2006/11/16/police-captain-demoted-for-leaking-sweeney-report/ Archived November 18, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  49. 1 2 3 Don Lehman, Union: Captain is the scapegoat in Sweeney probe, Post Star (November 17, 2006).
  50. 1 2 Hernandez, Raymond (April 29, 2006). "Party Photographs Put a Congressman on the Defensive". The New York Times.
  51. ↑ "Party Photographs Put a Congressman on the Defensive".
  52. 1 2 Mahoney, Joe (November 11, 2006). "Former Rep. John Sweeney charged with aggravated DWI". New York Daily News . Retrieved November 11, 2007.
  53. 1 2 Robert Gavin, "Source: Sweeney passenger a shock: Arresting State Police officers in DWI case surprised to find a woman on ex-congressman's lap", Albany Times Union, November 14, 2007
  54. ↑ Robert Gavin, "Sweeney makes plea, apologies: Ex-congressman fined $1,000, has license suspended for driving drunk" Archived April 28, 2007, at archive.today , Albany Times Union , November 15, 2007.
  55. 1 2 3 4 Donohue, Emily (April 23, 2010). "Former Rep. John Sweeney officially sentenced for second DWI". The Saratogian. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  56. 1 2 3 4 5 Demare, Carol (March 6, 2011). "Sweeney talks of loss, healing". Times-Union. Albany, NY.
  57. 1 2 Jordan Fabian, Ex-congressman Sweeney released from jail, The Hill (April 30, 2010).
  58. ↑ Stephen Williams (April 30, 2010). "After 17 days in jail, former congressman Sweeney completes sentence". dailygazette.com.
  59. ↑ Lyons, Brendan. "McLaughlin: I'm the 'boss' of Rensselaer County". Times Union.
  60. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (March 30, 2006). "Capitol Confidential — Circling Sweeney". Albany Times-Union blog. Archived from the original on November 26, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2006.
  61. ↑ Holland, Judy (June 18, 2006). "Sweeney urged to elect to kick smoking habit". Albany Times-Union. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2006.
  62. ↑ James Dao, " Pataki Picks New Labor and Utility Chiefs", The New York Times, January 7, 1995
John E. Sweeney
John e sweeney.jpg
Sweeney in 2006
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from New York
In office
January 3, 1999 –January 3, 2007
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the  U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 22nd congressional district
1999–2003		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the  U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 20th congressional district
2003–2007		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative

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On March 31, 2009, New York held a special election to fill a vacancy in its 20th congressional district. In January, the district's representative, Kirsten Gillibrand, was appointed US senator from New York, replacing Hillary Clinton, who had been appointed Secretary of State in the Obama administration. The two major-party candidates were Scott Murphy, a Democrat and private businessman, and Jim Tedisco, a Republican and the minority leader of the New York State Assembly. A Libertarian candidate, Eric Sundwall, was initially included in the race, but later removed from the ballot.

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