Some Republican congressmen have been warned to keep their distance from the female lobbyists who prowl Capitol Hill.
Sources say House Minority Leader John Boehner has told GOP congressmen who partied with lobbyists “to knock it off.” His spokesperson said, “Boehner has always told all our members that they will be held to the highest ethical standards.”
While there’s no evidence of anything more than friendly flirtatious behavior, the lawmakers have been told to keep partying to a minimum in this midterm election year.
GOP Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska — who’s in a tough race against Democratic opponent Tom White — was witnessed by Page Six in close conversation with a comely lobbyist at the Capitol Hill Club in DC recently.
“Why did you get me so drunk?” Terry asked the giggling woman, among other personal remarks.
When Terry realized he was sitting near a reporter, he quickly changed the topic of conversation to his three children and the struggle to pay their college tuition.
Terry was given a 100 percent rating by the Christian Coalition for his pro-family voting record.
When asked about the night at the club, Terry’s spokeswoman, Lisa Ellis, said, “The congressman has no idea what you are talking about.”
Meanwhile, a Kansas City blog posted photos of Missouri Rep. Sam Graves dining with a blond lobbyist from the Patriot Group at a DC restaurant. His office didn’t respond to our repeated requests for comment.
And lobbyist Glenn LeMunyon‘s DC row house has been a hot spot for lobbyists who want to meet House members, including California’s Duncan Hunter, Pennsylvania’s Bill Shuster and Terry.
LeMunyon uses the house as an office during the day, a fund-raising space Some nights, and a place for congressmen to mingle after-hours with lobbyists. LeMunyon hung up on us but responded in an e-mail that his house was not being used inappropriately by anyone. Hunter’s office declined to comment. Shuster’s office said, “It is all false.”