Lawmaker pushes back against allegations of improper lobbying influence on Taiwan trip

The office of Rep. Bill Owens (D-N.Y) put out a defensive statement Friday morning denying any wrongdoing following a report that a lobbying firm organized his four-day tour of Taiwan last year, in violation of House rules.

Owens's disclosure report says the trip was organized by the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan “to promote international cultural exchange.” But the investigative journalism outfit ProPublica is reporting that the trip was organized by the lobbying firm of former Sen. Al D’Amato (R-N.Y.) on behalf of Taiwanese commercial interests.

“Congressman Owens filed all the necessary paperwork with the House Ethics Committee and conducted the trip with their approval,” Owens spokesman Sean Magers said in a statement. “The trip was planned through significant communication with the embassy of Taiwan, and we believe it was conducted within full compliance of House rules.”

Congress banned lobbyists from paying for lawmakers' trips after the Jack Abramoff scandal under the George W. Bush administration.

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