Conflict of Interest Claims Follow Feinstein

Senator Dianne Feinstein has resigned as chair of the Military Construction Appropriations subcommittee, where she served from 2001 to 2005. California’s Metroactive newspaper claims she resigned after it revealed that she awarded billions of dollars in construction projects to two defense contractors owned by her husband, Richard C. Blum. Feinstein has profited directly from large investments in the companies, the newspaper reports, and did not recuse herself from discussions of company contract bids despite being warned by a top legal adviser of possible conflicts of interest. Sources:
“Feinstein Resigns”
Metroactive (CA), March 21-27, 2007
“Senator Feinstein’s Iraq Conflict”
Metroactive (CA), January 24-30, 2007
“Feinstein’s Office Denies Conflict of Interest Charges”
CyberCast News Service, April 4, 2007