And so forth.
It’s rarely as blatant as telling a foreign power they won’t receive their congressionally earmarked foreign aid for security assistance unless they help investigate a certain politician’s election opponent.
It can even take the form of seeking information, and owing someone a future ask of like value in return.
“So what kind of information are you looking for, Leo?”
“Anything that I might not know regarding Grace Martin, Stella Woodley, and their C Street buddies. Anything that Ishouldknow.”
He sits forward, elbows on his knees and his hands clasped together. “There was a certain lobbyist who dated Congresswoman Martin two years ago. Liberal, working on behalf of a coalition of religious organizations from the Pacific Northwest. Guy dealing with a lot of money. I’m talking four megachurches, among other entities represented. But more socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Pro-life, and pro-school vouchers, but also anti-death penalty, anti-gun, and pro-LGBTQ equality. Right?”
I sit forward and nod.
“Martin was shaking the tree pretty vigorously on both sides of the aisle, looking to secure co-signers for a bill promoting school prayer.” I arch an eyebrow at him. “I know, right? Stick, meet dead horse, courtesy of SCOTUS. Anyway. From my personal…observations, let’s say, she was not very happy her pet lobbyist didn’t shower money and favors upon the various members her tree-shaking earned her. Meaning nearly all of them backed out, and it never even made it out of committee. No shocker there.”
“Then what?”
“Funny thing. The lobbyist suddenly got audited by the IRS, was dropped by all his clients, and ended up the focus of a federal investigation for FEC violations. All at the same time. Oh, and Martin reportedly dumped him the day before all this converged on him.”
“Oh, really?” I hadn’t heard any of this.
He slowly nods. “It was never public knowledge that they dated. She was careful. Left no trail. There’s also the distinct possibility she dated Senator Connors for a couple of months before he announced last year that he wasn’t running for re-election due to an unspecified health issue. But, again, she left no public trail.”
I blink. “StephenConnors? Mississippi?”
He nods. “The liberal Dem, yes. The miracle man of Mississippi.”
“Fuuuck.” Connors’ sudden retirement had caught the DSCC and DNC by surprise. There’s now a desperate race between the two frontrunners in that race, a Democrat trying to hold on to the seat to keep it blue, and a very conservative Republican who, for a time, lived in the C Street townhouse while he was a congressman.
Daniel wryly smiles. “Want more?”
I sit back, chewing on what he’s told me. “How much more is there?”
“At least four more instances that I know about. Two congressman, another lobbyist, and a Senate staffer.”
“She’s been busy.”
“That’s one word for it.” He sits back in his chair and crosses his legs at the ankles. He’s a gorgeous man. His husband’s very lucky. “Here’s the funny thing. A couple of weeks ago, one of the interns in our office not-so-nonchalantly asked me if I’d had much contact with the vice president when he was a congressman.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Did they, now?”
“A young woman finishing her senior year at Georgetown, yes. I did a little digging and learned she’s pretty chummy with an intern in Congresswoman Martin’s office.”
“And they just so happened to have lunch together in the days leading up to that question?”
“Dinner, and yes. Them, and a couple of other interns…and someone else.”
“Stella Woodley?
Daniel smiles. “You’rereallygood at this.”
“Unfortunately.” I stomp back my growing anger. “What’d you tell her?”
“The truth. That I’ve met Mr. Woodley in the course of my job but we hadn’t really socialized together or anything. I know a fishing trip when I see it. And thatwasthe truth. I doubt the vice president even knows my name, unless he remembers it because I’m Senator Davis’ husband.”
“I appreciate the intel. I consider it a favor.”
He shrugs. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
