Dodd ethics allegations called 'a joke'

WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- Ethics allegations by a conservative legal group against U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., are "a joke," a Dodd spokesman says.

The group Judicial Watch Friday filed a complaint alleging that Dodd in effect received a "gift" from a business partner of convicted insider trader Edward Downe Jr., a friend of Dodd's who was pardoned by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2000, the Hartford Courant reported.

The group alleged that Dodd was allowed to buy out the share of an Ireland cottage he co-owned with Downe associate William Kessinger in 1994 for only $160,000, which it contends was far below the market value for the County Galway cottage. Dodd says he actually overpaid based on its local assessment.

Critizing the Courant for reporting the allegations, Dodd spokesman Bryan DeAngelis said in a statement, "It's appalling that any 'respectable' news organization would give currency to the rantings of this laughable band of kooks. Their allegations are a joke, beneath dignifying."

Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, told the newspaper, "It looks like (Dodd) is getting taken care of in Ireland, and he's not reporting the nature of the gifts he is getting as a result of his being taken care of."