FBI Probing Lobbyist Claim About Burton

The FBI has begun a preliminary inquiry into allegations that Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) threatened a lobbyist with loss of work last year if he did not raise funds for Burton’s campaign. An FBI agent has scheduled an interview next week with Mark A. Siegel, a former lobbyist for the Pakistani government, who alleged in a memo that he was “shaken down” by Burton. As the chairman of the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee, Burton is leading the House investigation of possible illegal campaign practices by the Democrats. “The whole reason the Justice Department is doing this is to try to discredit me,” Burton said.