Reports: FBI raid on Doolittle's home

From Roll Call this afternoon: The FBI has raided the Northern Virginia home of Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) last Friday, according to Congressional sources. No details are publicly available yet about the circumstances of the raid, but Doolittle and his wife, Julie, have been under federal investigation for their ties to the scandal surrounding imprisoned former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

"Because of the pending Abramoff investigation, I am not going to confirm or deny that the Doolittle’s home was raided," Doolittle attorney David G. Barger, a former assistant U.S. attorney, told the Bee. "The congressman continues to be fully supportive of his wife, Julie, and believes that the truth ultimately will prevail."

In a statement, Doolittle denied wrongdoing and shifted the focus to his wife: "My wife has been cooperating with the FBI and the Justice Department for almost three years and that cooperation is going to continue in the future. I support my wife 100% and fully expect that the truth will prevail."

UPDATE: The Hill confirms, and reports: "Doolittle came within three percentage points of losing his election in November after facing months of scrutiny over his relationship with Abramoff, who is in jail for an array of fraud, bribery and money-laundering charges. Doolittle has been under fire for paying his wife’s company, Sierra Dominion, a 15 percent commission on all contributions that the company raised for Doolittle’s campaign committee and leadership PAC.

"The Justice Department previously subpoenaed Julie Doolittle’s files. Doolittle also received contributions from indicted defense contractor Brent Wilkes and his associates, and investigators are probing whether those contributions are linked to any official action Doolittle took to help Wilkes's company obtain millions of dollars in government earmarks. Wilkes recently was indicted in connection with his investigation stemming from former Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham’s (R-Calif.) bribery conviction and jailing."

(Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP)