The Blotter, an ABC News blog that features Brian Ross investigations, has a disturbing item about influence peddling - the parent company of Purdue Pharma hired Rudy Giuliani and his consulting firm as advisors for five crucial years during which he apparently slowed a Drug Enforcement Agency investigation into the drugmaker.

This is the same company that earlier today pleaded guilty to charges of misleading regulators, doctors and consumers about the addictive risks of its OxyContin painkiller. The feds say Purdue knowingly sparked a nationwide craze by deliberately hiding the risks of what came to be known as “Hillbilly Heroin.” The upshot: “scores died.” Purdue and execs are paying a total of $634 million in fines.

The Blotter says DEA officials say Giuliani personally met with the head of the DEA when the DEA’s drug diversion office began a criminal investigation into the company. According to the book “Painkiller,” by New York Times reporter Barry Meier, both Giuliani and his then-partner Bernard Kerik “were in direct contact with Asa Hutchinson, the administrator of DEA.”

Hutchinson told the Blotter on ABCNews.com today that Giuliani asked for a meeting, “and we gave him a meeting.” Hutchinson says he was aware the company was under investigation at the time, and “any time a company is under investigation I like to give them a chance to make their case.”

Kerik told New York Magazine at the time that Giuliani had raised $15,000 in donations for a “traveling museum operated by the DEA.” Some officials told ABC News there were questions inside the agency of whether the donations were an attempt to influence the DEA.

Meier wrote that “with Giuliani now in the mix, the pace of DEA’s investigation into Purdue’s OxyContin plant in New Jersey slowed as Hutchinson repeatedly summoned division officials to his office to explain themselves and their reasons for continuing the inquiry.”

Giuliani publicly praised Purdue when it hired him in May 2002 for an undisclosed sum. “Purdue has demonstrated its commitment to fighting this problem,” he said, referring to drug addiction. According to Giuliani Partners, Kerik, a New York City police commissioner under Giuliani, was in charge of helping Purdue improve security at its New Jersey plant.

In hiring Giuliani, Purdue said, “Giuliani Partners is uniquely qualified” to address the issue of preventing drug abuse. The Web site for Giuliani Partners lists Purdue Pharma as one of its current clients. A spokeswoman for Giuliani Partners told ABC News today, “The proceeding speaks for itself and beyond that we’re not going to comment.”

Everyone wants influence, especially with the White House. That’s why lobbyists are hired and donations are made. It’s a cold world, after all. One could argue, in fact, that Giuliani did a marvelous job and was worth every penny. Democracy is messy, but interests were served.

Perhaps, Giuliani is happy to have this tidbit circulating. This tale gives the appearance that he not only plays the game, but will bend over backwards for the right…well, you know. Maybe if Rudy is elected, all those annoying marketing investigations will fizzle. The US Attorney in Boston, along with his inquisitive staff, will disappear faster than one can say Alberto Gonzales.

OxyContin, in retrospect, is a test case. Never mind the duplicity. Never mind the callousness. Never mind the illegalities. Never mind the deaths. Vote Rudy.

Source: The Blotter

[tags]OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, Rudy Guiliani[/tags]