• Oil, Natural Gas, and Electric Deregulation



• Stopping the Nuclear Relapse



• Interactive Map of Proposed New Reactors



• The Case Against Nuclear Power



• The Case for Renewables and Efficiency



• Energy Legislation



• Press Room



• Congressional Voting Records



• Take Action!

Westar Energy Bribery Scandal

NEW: Public Citizen Asks Department of Justice to investigate possible bribery of members of Congress, including Tom DeLay, by Westar executives and lobbyists  (12/28/04)

• Rep. Chris Bell's Ethics Complaint Concerning Tom DeLay's Role in the Westar Bribery Scandal (June 2004) [SUMMARY]
• Public Citizen's Letter to House Members (4/07/04)
• The Press Release (4/07/04)
• Public Citizen's Department of Justice Complaint (6/17/03)
• Public Citizen's Original Compliant to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (6/17/03)

Press Releases

• (7/1/03) Public Citizen Seeks Full Disclosure of All Internal Communications Involving Westar Influence-Peddling Scandal
• (6/19/03) U.S. House Members Should Return Ill-Gotten Contributions From Westar

Memos

• Westar Internal Memo Describing Influence Plan
• Westar Internal Memo Outlining Contribution Schedule
• Westar Contribution Patterns

Letters

• Public Citizen writes to Department of Justice, urging investigation of Tom DeLay's involvement in possibly bribery by Westar Energy executives and lobbyists
• Public Citizen Sends Second Letter to Westar's Board of Directors Seeking the Release of More Internal Communications Relating to the Bribery Scandal
• Public Citizen files a complaint with the Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division.
• Public Citizen files a complaint with the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Timeline

• Public Citizen's detailed chronology documenting Westar's efforts to allegedly bribe members of Congress in exchange for obtaining an exemption from SEC oversight.

Background Information

• Reps. Ed Markey (D-MA) and John Dingell (D-MI) letter to SEC expressing concern about exemptions from the Investment Company Act (Jan. 30, 2002)
• SEC Response to letter from Reps. Markey & Dingell regarding exemptions from the Investment Company Act (Feb. 13, 2002)
• Testimony of SEC Commissioner Hunt regarding detrimental impact of exemptions from Investment Company Act. See footnote 6, page 8 (of 9) (Dec. 13, 2001)
• SEC Commissioner Hunt testifies again regarding detrimental impact of exemptions from Investment Company Act. See footnote 7, page 9 (of 15). Also, Barton states during the hearing that his broad exemption for holding companies from the Investment Company Act "was put in for a company or companies in the midwest," suggesting that it was for Westar (Feb. 13, 2002). 
• Rep. Markey's motion to strike Westar exemption (Sept. 19, 2002)
• Letter from Rep. Ed Markey describing his unsuccessful efforts to remove the Westar exemption on September 19, 2002
• Westar delivers $25,000 to Rep. Tom DeLay's Texans for Republican Majority PAC in May 2002 after Westar executive Doug Lawrence mentions the contribution in internal memos
• House energy conference committee transcript of debate on Rep. Ed Markey's attempt to remove Westar's special exemption. September 19, 2002 

Because Public Citizen does not accept funds from corporations, professional associations or government agencies, we can remain independent and follow the truth wherever it may lead. But that means we depend on the generosity of concerned citizens like you for the resources to fight on behalf of the public interest. If you would like to help us in our fight, click here.