"It is true that Webber hosts a variety of events at the house, "an exquisite 1878 Victorian home," as the caption to a photo from...2002 notes."..."Webber has not filed a Certificate of Occupancy with the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) alerting the city government that she is renting out space in her home commercially, according to a check of the agency's records this week by Breitbart News.
“In most cases, no person can use a building, structure or land in the District of Columbia for any purpose other than a single family dwelling until a valid C of O has been issued,” the DCRA government website states."...
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5/29/14, "Thad Cochran Hosts Fundraisers for Liberal Democrats," Erick Erickson, RedState.com
"The Washington Examiner reports that Thad Cochran hosts fundraisers for Democrats in his home.
Well...they report it slightly differently. The Washington Examiner reports that Cochran’s executive assistant, Kay Webber, hosts fundraisers in her home and Thad Cochran rents a basement apartment there.
But there is no basement apartment in Kay Webber’s home available for rent. That’s according to the District of Columbia database where these things can be tracked.
If Thad Cochran is renting from Kay Webber, as opposed to living in her house, then he and she have a bit of a problem with the District of Columbia.
Otherwise, they have this other problem. Thad Cochran is living in a house where Democrats are holding fundraisers held by Cochran’s own executive assistant.
By the way, how does the Executive Assistant to a United States Senator afford a multimillion dollar home on a congressional staffer’s salary? I assume not this way."
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5/22/14, "Fundraisers At Cochran Aide's House May Have Been Illegal, Lawyer Says," Breitbart, Matthew Boyle
"At issue are two separate legal restrictions, one governing the political activities of congressional aides and the other the use of a candidate's home for campaign events.
Federal law prohibits congressional aides, whose salaries are paid by taxpayers, from donating to their employer's campaigns, providing free services or other “in kind” donations, or even fronting expenses for the campaign other than for their own personal travel.
Separately, federal law prohibits campaigns from paying costs associated with their candidate's home address; all such costs must be paid personally by the candidate, reported as an in-kind contribution to the campaign.
As previously reported by Breitbart News, Cochran has repeatedly listed the house owned by Webber as his primary address on official forms, including several statements of candidacy to the Federal Election Commission. Cochran's campaign says he lives in a basement apartment at the address with its own separate entrance.
In December 2012, Cochran's campaign hosted a fundraiser at the house, charging $500 per person and $1000 per political action committee, according to an invitation for the event published by the Sunlight Foundation.
A year later, the campaign held another fundraiser there, charging donors $1000 to attend, $2600 to be a personal sponsor, and $5000 for a PAC to attend. “MS Delegation and All Republican Senators will be invited,” the invitation, published by the Sunlight Foundation, said.
In both instances, Cochran's campaign said Webber was reimbursed for use of the house by Brandon Winfrey, a fundraiser who organizes such events. Webber was paid $850 for the 2012 event and $1,250 for the 2013 event, Cochran's spokesman, Jordan Russell, said.
The two restrictions create a legal minefield for Cochran and Webber's situation that Mitchell and Allison say is troublesome."...
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29 year Cochran aid plead guilty in Abramoff scandal in 2009, was "particularly demanding" in her requests in exchange for helping him with a top client, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians:
3/10/2009, "Ex-Cochran aide pleads guilty in corruption probe," AP via wlox.com
"A former longtime aide to Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran pleaded guilty Tuesday to swapping legislative favors for event tickets and other gifts from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff's firm.
Ann Copland wiped tears from her eyes as she admitted to U.S. District Judge Richard Roberts that she took the gifts in exchange for helping one of Abramoff's top clients, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Copland is the latest among more than a dozen congressional aides, lobbyists, lawmakers and Bush administration officials convicted as part of a lobbying scandal spawned by Abramoff, a former high-flying influence peddler now serving a four-year prison term.
E-mails disclosed in court documents that Copland sent to Abramoff's firm show she was particularly demanding in what she wanted from the lobbyist. At one point she sent a long list of ticket requests that included several concerts, hockey, ice skating and the circus. At other times she sent e-mails from inside the firm's luxury box seats complaining about the food and drinks.
Among the e-mails filed in court was one from lobbyist Todd Boulanger to his boss saying they should go out of their way to keep Copland happy because "she's more valuable to us than a rank-and-file House member."
Another e-mail from Kevin Ring, an Abramoff associate, included a list of events Copland wanted to attend and how many tickets she wanted for each event. She asked to see singer Paul McCartney, an ice skating event, musical acts 'NSync and Green Day and a hockey game. She also asked for two to six tickets to see the circus, but only if they were floor seats. Abramoff responded: "She'll get everything she wants."
Copland worked for Cochran for 29 years, then abruptly left his office last spring after Abramoff prosecutors had netted a dozen convictions in the scandal.
In Tuesday's hearing, Copland admitted she understood that Senate rules prohibit staffers from soliciting gifts from lobbyists but still secretly did so."
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Commenter to Washington Examiner article about Cochran and his longtime residence says Cochran should do the right thing and resign. A Senate seat is an honor
and a privilege ad Cochran has forfeited it by his behavior:
"Reply 5 - Posted by: The Advocate, 5/28/2014 10:16:03 PM
Senator Cochran should do the right thing and resign.
Did his wife really need to be confined all these years or was it for his convenience and that of his EA girlfriend.
Take your EA and go off into what is left of your life.
A Senate seat is an honor and privilege and you have forfeited it by your behavior."
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6/2/14, "Thad Cochran’s Unanswered Questions," Mississippi Rebel, Tyler
"If Thad Cochran wins tomorrow, all of the questions that he has avoided
during the primary will continue to fester in the general election. And
when the answers finally do come out, Travis Childers and the Democrats
will reap the rewards.
Does Cochran actually own a home in Mississippi?
Who paid for the building in Washington where he “rents an apartment”?
Why has Kay Webber, his executive assistant, hosted Democratic fundraisers in the same building where Cochran lives?
Why did he bring Kay Webber on 33 taxpayer-funded trips around the world?
These issues aren’t going to disappear if Cochran somehow beats McDaniel tomorrow. At some point, more people are going to wonder why Cochran has been so secretive and defensive throughout the election.
First, he refused to debate Chris McDaniel, claiming that McDaniel “is trying to make me look bad.” Then, he refused to sit down with the largest newspaper in Mississippi.
Now, he is literally fleeing from reporters. Last week, Cochran was caught on camera switching vehicles and ducking through a building just to avoid answering a few questions.
Cochran can’t run away forever. When he finally confesses to whatever it is he is hiding, it might be too late for Republicans.
Does Cochran actually own a home in Mississippi?
Who paid for the building in Washington where he “rents an apartment”?
Why has Kay Webber, his executive assistant, hosted Democratic fundraisers in the same building where Cochran lives?
Why did he bring Kay Webber on 33 taxpayer-funded trips around the world?
These issues aren’t going to disappear if Cochran somehow beats McDaniel tomorrow. At some point, more people are going to wonder why Cochran has been so secretive and defensive throughout the election.
First, he refused to debate Chris McDaniel, claiming that McDaniel “is trying to make me look bad.” Then, he refused to sit down with the largest newspaper in Mississippi.
Now, he is literally fleeing from reporters. Last week, Cochran was caught on camera switching vehicles and ducking through a building just to avoid answering a few questions.
Cochran can’t run away forever. When he finally confesses to whatever it is he is hiding, it might be too late for Republicans.
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