Wes Cooley
Encyclopedia
Wester Shadric "Wes" Cooley (born March 28, 1932) was a Republican
politician
and rancher from Oregon
. He was a U.S. Representative
from for the 1995–1997 term.
. He served in the United States Army
from 1952 to 1954, and is described in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress as a rancher. He owns the vitamin supplements company Rose Laboratories. Cooley graduated from the University of Southern California
with a Bachelor of Science
degree in 1958.
in 1992. In 1994, midway through his State Senate term, Cooley was elected to the House of Representatives
as a Republican from the 2nd District.
In the 104th Congress
, Cooley was an advocate of private property rights, American military superiority, tort reform
to limit recovery by plaintiffs, and other planks of the Republican Party's proclaimed Contract with America
.
In April 1996, the Medford, Oregon
Mail Tribune
questioned Cooley's statement in the 1994 Voter's Guide that he had served in the Army Special Forces in Korea. Charges also arose that Cooley and his wife kept their marriage secret for several years in order for her to continue to receive veteran's benefits from her prior marriage. Cooley was unopposed for renomination in the May primary and vigorously denied the charges; however, he came under increasing pressure from fellow Republicans, including his campaign manager Greg Walden
and House speaker Newt Gingrich
, to step down. In August 1996, Cooley withdrew from the race. A special nominating convention chose Bob Smith, who had retired from the seat two years earlier, to replace Cooley on the ballot. Smith went on to defeat Democrat Mike Dugan in the November election.
In December, Cooley was indicted for lying about his military service in the 1994 voter's pamphlet. While claiming that the documents proving his claim were destroyed in a fire, Cooley later accepted a plea agreement in which he was convicted of lying in an official document and sentenced to probation, community service, and ordered to pay a fine.
reports that prosecutors claim more than $10 million was bilked from investors in the Bidbay sale of shares based on false statements. Cooley was charged with six counts of money laundering
and one count of filing a false tax return in 2002 in an attempt to conceal more than $1.1 million in illicit income.
"Questions were also raised (during the 1966 Marion County Trial) about claims that he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa in college and that he had a law degree. He was neither a member of the fraternity nor a law school graduate".
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and rancher from Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was a U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from for the 1995–1997 term.
Early life
Cooley was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1952 to 1954, and is described in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress as a rancher. He owns the vitamin supplements company Rose Laboratories. Cooley graduated from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in 1958.
Political career
Cooley was elected to the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in 1992. In 1994, midway through his State Senate term, Cooley was elected to the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a Republican from the 2nd District.
In the 104th Congress
104th United States Congress
The One Hundred Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 1997, during the third and...
, Cooley was an advocate of private property rights, American military superiority, tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
to limit recovery by plaintiffs, and other planks of the Republican Party's proclaimed Contract with America
Contract with America
The Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Larry Hunter, who was aided by Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, Richard Armey, Bill Paxon, Tom DeLay, John Boehner and Jim Nussle, and in part using text...
.
In April 1996, the Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
Mail Tribune
Mail Tribune
The Mail Tribune is a seven-day daily newspaper based in Medford, Oregon, United States that serves Jackson County, Oregon, and adjacent areas of northern California....
questioned Cooley's statement in the 1994 Voter's Guide that he had served in the Army Special Forces in Korea. Charges also arose that Cooley and his wife kept their marriage secret for several years in order for her to continue to receive veteran's benefits from her prior marriage. Cooley was unopposed for renomination in the May primary and vigorously denied the charges; however, he came under increasing pressure from fellow Republicans, including his campaign manager Greg Walden
Greg Walden
Gregory Paul Walden is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district covers more than two-thirds of the state . He is the son of Paul E...
and House speaker Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
, to step down. In August 1996, Cooley withdrew from the race. A special nominating convention chose Bob Smith, who had retired from the seat two years earlier, to replace Cooley on the ballot. Smith went on to defeat Democrat Mike Dugan in the November election.
In December, Cooley was indicted for lying about his military service in the 1994 voter's pamphlet. While claiming that the documents proving his claim were destroyed in a fire, Cooley later accepted a plea agreement in which he was convicted of lying in an official document and sentenced to probation, community service, and ordered to pay a fine.
2009 indictment
On January 29, 2009, Cooley was indicted in California for his role in an alleged investment scheme associated with the sale of shares of Bidbay.com. The OregonianThe Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
reports that prosecutors claim more than $10 million was bilked from investors in the Bidbay sale of shares based on false statements. Cooley was charged with six counts of money laundering
Money laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
and one count of filing a false tax return in 2002 in an attempt to conceal more than $1.1 million in illicit income.
2010 Update
Cooley is fighting to stay out of prison 16 years after being caught lying about his military record. He faces up to 38 years in federal prison if convicted on the six counts of money laundering and one of filing a false tax return. The pre-trial continues in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, CA. Cooley's attorney claims his client is incompetent to stand trial although treatment and evaluation in federal medical center in Bunter, NC found Cooley competent. The hospital also reported evidence of malingering by Cooley. The defendant also alleged during the 2005 Bidbay civil case in St. Louis that he could remember nothing for the last 15 years by virtue of series of strokes. Cooley and an associate were ordered to pay $2.1 million to 11 people the court said were victims of the scheme."Questions were also raised (during the 1966 Marion County Trial) about claims that he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa in college and that he had a law degree. He was neither a member of the fraternity nor a law school graduate".
External links
- Biographical directory of the United States Congress
- "Former congressman, felon Cooley may run for office again", Paul Fattig, Mail-Tribune, March 1998
- Wes Cooley on the issues
- Voter's pamphlet, May 1998
- Wes Cooley at congressionalbadboys.com (cites sources)
- 1993–94 election receipts and expenditures