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Post-9/11 Rush Mixed Politics With Security
On Nov. 4, 2004, Tom Ridge, who was secretary of the Homeland Security Department, speaks at the Center for Rural Development, which Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers, far left, helped create.
(By Janie Slaven -- Commonwealth Journal)
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On Oct. 22, 2003, Reveal executives met Rogers at a fundraiser in Washington, "hosted by Van Scoyoc Associates," according to Rogers's office. Eight days later, HALPAC reported that five Reveal executives, five directors and one lobbyist donated $14,000, campaign finance records show.
Rogers's staff said in a statement that the fundraiser marked the first time the congressman met representatives of Reveal. Rogers said he did not recollect the event, and his staff declined to provide details. Company officials also declined to discuss the fundraiser or any of the circumstances surrounding their donations to Rogers.
"I've had a lot of fundraisers," said Rogers, who added that he played "no role whatsoever" in helping Reveal secure its TSA grant. "Campaign contributions mean nothing on my watch."
Reveal's president said his company made the contributions because Rogers supports the use of emerging technologies for aviation security.
"We contribute to those who we believe have a clear vision," Ellenbogen said in an interview. "We are supporting those who believe there is a place for new technology." Other Reveal executives and board members did not return phone calls seeking comment on their donations.
Of the other companies participating in the TSA grant program, Analogic contributed $1,000 in 2004, Lockheed Martin's employees' PAC contributed $5,000 in 2004, and GE InVision Inc., formerly known as InVision Technologies, contributed $19,000 between 2002 and September 2005, campaign finance records show.
In January 2004, three months after the Reveal donations to HALPAC, Rogers and David M. Stone, who was the TSA's chief at the time, attended an aviation industry meeting in Hawaii. Stone recalled that Rogers raised the issue of the Reveal technology and asked about the agency's progress in evaluating the company's machine.
Throughout 2004, Rogers and his staff continued questioning homeland security officials about Reveal's progress. Ridge recalled that Rogers was a "big supporter" of Reveal's technology.
"He always thought our work at the TSA was too labor-intensive and that the number of workers could be reduced if we developed this technology," Ridge said.
Before it could be sold to the TSA, Reveal's device needed to be certified by the agency on a series of technical standards. Van Scoyoc, one of Reveal's lobbyists, worked with the company to obtain the certification, according to Steven O. Palmer, a member of the firm.
"We've been helping them through the certification process at the TSA," Palmer said in recent interview.
On July 14, 2004, Rep. John L. Mica (R-Fla.), the chairman of the House Transportation Committee's aviation subcommittee, "expressed concern over when Reveal's CT-80 would be certified and available to the TSA," Reveal noted in its letter to The Post.
