John Dowdy

John Vernard Dowdy (February 11, 1912 – April 12, 1995) [cite web|title=Biographical Directory of Congress|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=D000467|accessdate=2006-10-23] was an American politician. Dowdy was a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from the 7th District of Texas from 1953 to 1967 and then served as a congressman from the 2nd District of Texas until 1973 when he decided to retire under indictment for bribery.

According to prosecutors, he accepted a $25,000 bribe to intervene in the federal investigation of Monarch Construction Company of Silver Springs, Maryland. In 1971, Dowdy was convicted on eight counts: two counts of conspiracy, one count of transporting a bribe over state lines, and five counts of perjury. In 1973, after Dowdy retired from Congress, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia overturned the bribery and conspiracy convictions. Congressman Dowdy still served a sentence in prison for perjury. Right wing groups rallied to his defense, including the "Washington Observer" and the Liberty Lobby, which contended that Dowdy was the victim of a "vicious frame-up by the Justice Department in collaboration with a clique of housing racketeers." The ulterior motive, according to the newspaper was to stop Dowdy's subcommittee investigation of the fraud at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. ["Washington Observer", April 15, 1973]

Dowdy was born in Waco, Texas and lived in Texas for most of his life. He was a lawyer before entering politics. Dowdy died in Athens, Texas.

Committee Assignments

* 83rd Congress — Post Office and Civil Service
* 84th Congress — Post Office and Civil Service, House Administration
* 85th through 92nd Congresses — Judiciary, District of Columbia Subcommittee

References