FBI Investigated Reid in 2008 Campaign Finance Case

In 2008, the FBI briefly investigated Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's connections to a political donor and long-time friend who has been indicted for allegedly funneling $138,000 in illegal campaign contributions to the Nevada Democrat.

According to a copy of sealed government papers obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, FBI agents reviewed media reports, combed through federal campaign finance records for contributions made in 2007 by Harvey Whittemore to Reid, and searched bank records obtained under subpoena associated with Reid's Senate campaign committee.

Prosecutors in the case have said Reid was not aware of any illegal contributions and was cleared of any wrongdoing, the Review-Journal reported. Whittemore was also cleared of any criminal conduct at that time, his lawyers told the newspaper.

But Whittemore is now scheduled to go to trial next month on four felony charges, including making excessive campaign contributions and allegedly lying to the FBI and the Federal Election Commission. The Review-Journal reported that charges were filed against him after new evidence in the case was presented to the FBI in 2011.