Blunt Opposes Justice Probe Of Coconut Road Earmark

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) said Thursday he would oppose a Department of Justice investigation into the mysterious changing of a 2005 earmark as part of a massive highway bill.

“The attorney general does not work for the Congress of the United States,” Blunt said.

Blunt said that if the legislative branch were to instruct the executive branch to open an investigation, the action would be “well beyond the Constitution.”

The issue has been thrust into the spotlight in recent days after it was revealed that staff for Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) “corrected” the earmark just before it went to the president’s desk. The change directed money to go to a proposed highway interchange project on Interstate 75 outside of Naples, Fla.

Critics have suggested that Young’s office made the changes at the behest of Florida real estate developers who stood to profit from the interchange. In February of 2005, a Florida real estate developer hosted a fundraiser for Young.

Young’s office has denied any wrongdoing, saying the project was entirely worthy of an earmark.

However, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have suggested the matter should be subject to a criminal investigation, perhaps by the DOJ.

Blunt also defended his fellow Republican, saying Young would surely welcome any investigation into the matter.