2006.10.14: October 14, 2006: Headlines: Congress: Legislation: Appropriations: Five Year Rule: Crime: Arizona Daily Star: Federal prosecutors have opened a "preliminary assessment" into allegations surrounding a camping trip outgoing Rep. Jim Kolbe took with two former pages and others in 1996
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2006.10.14: October 14, 2006: Headlines: Congress: Legislation: Appropriations: Five Year Rule: Crime: Arizona Daily Star: Federal prosecutors have opened a "preliminary assessment" into allegations surrounding a camping trip outgoing Rep. Jim Kolbe took with two former pages and others in 1996
Federal prosecutors have opened a "preliminary assessment" into allegations surrounding a camping trip outgoing Rep. Jim Kolbe took with two former pages and others in 1996
An allegation related to the trip was given to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix, but it was not immediately clear whether it made any contention of improper activity by Kolbe, who is retiring after 22 years from his seat in Congressional District 8. The seat covers much of Southeastern Arizona. Kolbe, 64, was pulled into the unfolding sexual scandal involving former Florida Rep. Mark Foley when he said this week that a former page had complained in 2001 or 2002 about e-mails the page had received from Foley that made the page feel uncomfortable. Foley resigned two weeks ago amid reports about sexually explicit e-mails he sent to pages.
PCOL Comment: Jim Kolbe, the openly gay Congressman who chairs the House subcommittee that oversees appropriations for the Peace Corps, will be remembered by Returned Volunteers for inserting language into the Consolidated Appropriations Bill of 2003 to change the Peace Corps' five year rule created by founding Director Sargent Shriver to keep the Peace Corps institutionally young. Kolbe's change was supported by then Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez who wrote over 50 letters to members of Congress asking for their support for the change. The five year rule has been a cornerstone of Peace Corps' organizational structure to ensure that the agency does not fall into the trap of entrenched government bureaucracies where it is impossible to fire a civil servant no matter how incompetent he or she may be. Some fear that over the next few years the increasing numbers and influence of employees not subject to the five-year rule may change the nature of the Peace Corps given their longevity and "institutional knowledge. "
Federal prosecutors have opened a "preliminary assessment" into allegations surrounding a camping trip outgoing Rep. Jim Kolbe took with two former pages and others in 1996
Feds looking into Kolbe camping trip
Two former pages, staff members, park officials rafted Grand Canyon
Staff and wire reports
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.14.2006
Federal prosecutors have opened a "preliminary assessment" into allegations surrounding a camping trip outgoing Rep. Jim Kolbe took with two former pages and others in 1996.
"We are aware of the reports about the trip, and we are responding appropriately," said Patrick Hornbuckle, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Arizona.
Kolbe, R-Ariz., took the former pages as well as staff members and National Park Service officials on a Fourth of July rafting trip in the Grand Canyon in 1996, his spokeswoman Korenna Cline said Friday.
An allegation related to the trip was given to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Phoenix, but it was not immediately clear whether it made any contention of improper activity by Kolbe, who is retiring after 22 years from his seat in Congressional District 8. The seat covers much of Southeastern Arizona.
Hornbuckle said the office was looking into the validity of the allegation as a "preliminary assessment" rather than an investigation. He declined to comment further about the nature of the allegation or who made it.
Kolbe, 64, was pulled into the unfolding sexual scandal involving former Florida Rep. Mark Foley when he said this week that a former page had complained in 2001 or 2002 about e-mails the page had received from Foley that made the page feel uncomfortable.
Foley resigned two weeks ago amid reports about sexually explicit e-mails he sent to pages.
Kolbe said he referred the matter to the House clerk and that someone from Kolbe's office confronted Foley himself.
Also on Friday, Cline, Kolbe's spokeswoman, resigned.
"I have decided to pursue another job opportunity and today is my last day," she wrote to reporters in an e-mail.
Reached by telephone, she said she had been looking for a job before Kolbe's connection to the Foley scandal broke.
Kolbe has been traveling in Europe and has declined interview requests.
Cline said she did not know when he was supposed to return.
Cline said the rafting party included five current staffers, two former pages and Kolbe's sister. Nothing inappropriate happened on the trip, she said. She did not know who the pages were or what year they worked for Kolbe, but she said they paid their own way.
"There is absolutely no basis and no truth to any inappropriate behavior," she said, adding that Kolbe's office has not been contacted by the Justice Department.
At the time of the trip, Kolbe served on a subcommittee that oversaw the national park system. He visited the park to look at National Park Service operations and fire reconnaissance.
He served on the board that oversees the page program between 1995 and February 2001.
Kolbe frequently offers his home to former pages, interns, constituents and colleagues visiting Washington.
● Star reporter Josh Brodesky and the AP contributed to this report.
When this story was posted in October 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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Story Source: Arizona Daily Star
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Congress; Legislation; Appropriations; Five Year Rule; Crime
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