From the Daily News:Brooklyn Rep. Ed Towns tried to steer $5.3 million in taxpayer money to a nonprofit that employs one of his staffers, the Daily News has learned.
The group, Trinity Community Development and Empowerment Group Inc., lists a vacant building as its address and a total of $329 in revenue on its 2008 tax filing.
Towns' sponsored $500,000 for the group, and joined with Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn) to get Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) to sponsor another $4.8 million for Trinity.
Late Thursday, Meeks and Towns withdrew both requests after the Daily News raised questions about conflict of interest caused by Towns' staffer. Clarke did not return calls.
Two hours before pulling the plug, Towns' spokeswoman, Jenny Rosenberg, praised the group, saying: "Mr. Towns thinks this is a good organization and he wants to support people and organizations who are doing good things in the community."
Towns' staffer, Christopher Lundy, is listed as a congressional aide making just under $37,000 in 2009, records compiled by the government watchdog site legistorm.org, show.
Lundy was listed as working 20 hours a week for the non-profit, Trinity's 2008 tax filing shows.
Rosenberg claimed Towns withdrew his support for the congressional funding "once he learned of the possible conflict."
Rosenberg told The News Lundy claimed he received approval from the House Ethics Committee to hold both positions. She declined to elaborate.
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