Lobbying Firm In Metabolife Probe
October 17, 2004
EphedrineInfo.com
An interesting situation is brewing in the battle between federal investigators and Metabolife, the company that sold a wide variety of popular ephedra based diet supplements. Between 2001 and 2004, Metabolife paid an estimated $1.8 million to Patton Boggs, LLP to lobby Congress on its behalf. Former California Governor Gray Davis vetoed an ephedra warning bill in 2000 -- Metabolife donated $150,000 to Davis' campaign.
Moreover, the Center for Responsive Politics claims that Metabolife made $1.7 million in federal soft money donations to both political parties from 1999 to 2002.
Federal prosecutors are trying to get Patton Boggs attorneys to testify against Metabolife. Metabolife claimed that they shouldn't have to, claiming attorney/client privledge. But U.S. District Judge Irma Gonzalez rules that the attorneys must testify, claiming that she believed that Metabolife "used their attorneys to knowingly and willfully make false statements to the FDA..."
The full article is well worth checking out. Read the full story by clicking here.
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