Florida Paper Charges Feeney 'Owes Public Answers, Now' Concerning Abramoff Dealings

Florida Paper Charges Feeney 'Owes Public Answers, Now' Concerning Abramoff Dealings

St. Petersberg Times Editorializes That Corrupt Congressman 'Looks Complicit', Has 'Cloud Over His Head'

Sun-Sentinel Says 'Smart, Thorough, Careful' People Like Feeney Not Easily 'Duped'...

St. Petersburg Times, which hasn't historically been an anti-Feeney paper, calls on him to come clean. Now.

When asked to explain the similarity [between the cost of his trip to play golf in Scotland with Abramoff and the amount which Abramoff's office told him to report, despite claims by Feeney that he didn't know Abramoff had paid for the trip] his press secretary would say only that: "Representative Feeney is anxious to discuss this matter further when the time is appropriate."

If the congressman believes his constituents and a public fed up with scandal can wait until "the time is appropriate, " he is mistaken. Eleven people now have been convicted in the Abramoff investigation, and Feeney is being labeled in court records as "Representative #3." He has said he was "duped and lied to, " but these records make his office look complicit.

Feeney's attorney may be urging him to keep quiet, but his legal tactic is at odds with his official responsibilities. He is a congressman with a cloud over his head, and the public is owed some answers.

While over at the Sun-Sentinel, Scott Maxwell --- who has historically been far too kind to Feeney in light of his storied transgressions --- is still being very kind. Even if he's finally beginning to show some doubts as of yesterday:

Tom Feeney is smart, thorough and careful.

Smart, thorough and careful people don't usually get duped --- which is essentially Feeney's defense in this whole mess.