John Dowdy

John Dowdy

Dowdy's former residence in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

John Vernard Dowdy (February 11, 1912 – April 12, 1995)^[1] was an American politician. Dowdy was a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from the 7th District of Texas from 1952 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 Spring, Maryland. In 1971, Dowdy was convicted on eight counts: two of conspiracy, one of transporting a bribe over state lines, and five of perjury.^[2] 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. Dowdy still served a sentence in prison for perjury.^[3][4]

Right-wing groups rallied to his defense, including the Washington Observer and the Liberty Lobby, which contended 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.^[5]

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

1. "Biographical Directory of Congress". Retrieved 2006-10-23.
2. iPad iPhone Android TIME TV Populist The Page (1972-01-10). "www.time.com, January 10, 1972, "Trials:Congressman Convicted"". Time.com. Retrieved 2013-04-19.
5. Washington Observer, April 15, 1973.