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House Gets Subpoena For Doolittle Probe E-mails

The top administrative officer in the House has been subpoenaed for e-mails related to the ongoing criminal investigation of Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.), according to a notification read on the House floor Thursday.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued the subpoena to Daniel P. Beard, the chief administrative officer of the House, whose office oversees electronic communications for members of Congress and their staff.

"The subpoena was issued in connection with the Justice Department investigation of Congressman Doolittle and seeks material from e-mail backup tapes maintained by the CAO," according to a notification of the subpoena.

This is the latest development in an ongoing Justice Department investigation of the California Republican. Doolittle and six members of his staff were subpoenaed by the same grand jury last month.

The Justice Department has been investigating the lawmaker and his wife in its ongoing public corruption investigation stemming from a probe of jailed former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The FBI raided the couple's Northern Virginia home earlier this year. Doolittle quickly issued a statement through his lawyer saying the raid was related to an investigation of his wife's fundraising firm, Sierra Dominion FInancial Solutions.

The embattled lawmaker was forced to give up his seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee in the aftermath of that FBI search.

Doolittle's office directed questions about the most recent subpoena to his lawyer, David G. Barger of Williams Mullen. Barger could not immediately be reached for comment.

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