CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia has a penchant for federal "pork," and Rep. Alan Mollohan has shoveled his share. In the last decade, the 12-term Democrat has earmarked an estimated $480 million for his 20-county 1st Congressional District.
Such largesse has won Mollohan fans among his constituents. It also threatens to topple the veteran congressman, amid allegations that appropriations improperly benefited friends, former staffers, business associates - and ultimately his own campaign war chest.
At issue is at least $202 million of that federal funding channeled by Mollohan since 1996 to five nonprofit groups created with his support, according to audits filed with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.
Together, these groups have employed hundreds of district residents, including Mollohan's friends and political allies. The congressman and his political action committee, Summit PAC, have received more than $146,000 during that time from people affiliated with these nonprofits.
A review by The Associated Press shows that contributions from these nonprofit executives, staffers and board members amounted to less than 5 percent of the $3.1 million Mollohan and Summit PAC raised. The AP also found that Mollohan is not the only member of Congress to establish a nonprofit and then find it federal funding.
The FBI subpoenaed financial records from Mollohan's nonprofits earlier this year, after the National Legal and Policy Center asked federal prosecutors to investigate Mollohan in April.
Last month, another Beltway-based group ranked Mollohan among the 20 members of Congress it considers "most corrupt." Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington also alleges that Mollohan improperly steered federal funds in exchange for campaign contributions from nonprofit staffers as well as from contractors doing business with the nonprofits.
"It looks like there's a quid-pro-quo going on there," said Melanie Sloan, the group's executive director. "You're not supposed to be appropriating for your friends."