Drudge Report Story About Harry Reid Proven False
On Monday evening, I noticed a story on the Drudge Report that claimed Democrat Harry Reid received a free ticket to a championship boxing match as a favor. The story included a picture of Reid, seated next to Senator John McCain, who also apparently received a free ticket.
There was one major problem with the story: the free tickets were not tickets at all. They were access credentials, given to elected politicians who oversee the actions of the Nevada Athletic Commission during the fight. Reid and McCain were both invited as overseers of the fight. Now I'll admit, that's a pretty nice perk for politicians, but there's nothing illegal about it. In fact, if either man had attempted to pay the NAC for the tickets, they would have been commiting a crime. Those seats are considered government property for the duration of the fight, and selling government property is against the law, as many GOPers have recently found out when it was discovered they were selling their offices.
TPMmuckraker May 31, 2006 03:46 PM
There was one major problem with the story: the free tickets were not tickets at all. They were access credentials, given to elected politicians who oversee the actions of the Nevada Athletic Commission during the fight. Reid and McCain were both invited as overseers of the fight. Now I'll admit, that's a pretty nice perk for politicians, but there's nothing illegal about it. In fact, if either man had attempted to pay the NAC for the tickets, they would have been commiting a crime. Those seats are considered government property for the duration of the fight, and selling government property is against the law, as many GOPers have recently found out when it was discovered they were selling their offices.
TPMmuckraker May 31, 2006 03:46 PM