Pretty Much Aboveboard?

Some company for Bob Ney? Toledo Blade (05.04.07), via Josh Marshall:

"We think we detected a Freudian slip on the part of U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor (R - OH5) as he explained why he bought a million-dollar home — still not in his 5th District — and tried to hide the transaction behind a subsidiary of a politically friendly Columbus law firm.

The arrangement, the 10-term Republican lawmaker declared, constitutes 'nothing unethical or unusual. It’s all pretty much above-board.'"

Gillmor: absentee arrogance

"'Pretty much'? Hello? Dr. Freud?"

The Washington Post chimes in (05.11.07):

"Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) has a nifty new 3,751-square-foot, four-bedroom house in suburban Columbus, Ohio, next to a golf course designed by the great Arnold Palmer.

The $1 million house has some unusual characteristics. It's not in his congressional district, but sits about 90 minutes away from the condo that he uses as his official residence."

Congressman Says Home Purchase Was 'Pretty Much Aboveboard'

"Even more curious is that Gillmor's name appears nowhere on the property records. The Toledo Blade, after some fine digging by reporter Joshua Boak, found that the owner is Zenith Holding & Trading Corp."

"That, in turn, is a subsidiary of a Columbus law and lobbying firm -- Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease -- whose PAC has contributed $6,500 to Gillmor's campaigns since 1997."

"The firm sent the paper a letter saying that Zenith has the property in trust 'at the request of, and for the benefit of' Gillmor, who paid the mortgage and taxes."

So move along now. Nothing to see here.