Chris Cannon

The plant was sold to a Hasidic Jewish sect that took several years but finally reopened it in 2005. Ruse, who left the bank, was hired as manager for the reopened plant.

Cannon's personal loan to Ruse remains outstanding. Cannon spokesman Charles Isom said that Ruse made a payment on the loan in late 1996 and then payments on the interest in 2000 and 2001. According to Cannon's financial disclosure forms, Cannon collected between $200 and $1,000 in interest on Ruse's loan in 2000 and 2001. He did not collect interest in 2002 or 2003 and has not otherwise received interest payments.

Cannon's office stressed that the congressman has made repeated efforts to collect the loan. Cannon's most recent financial disclosure forms show the amount outstanding is still over $50,000.

Chris Cannon's brother, Joseph Cannon, was chairman of the Utah Republican party, a former business partner of his brother, and leads a team of 10 lobbyists at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a law and lobbying firm. Since late 2006, he has also served as editor of Utah's second-largest daily newspaper, Deseret Morning News (now Deseret News). Both Joe and Congressman Cannon admit that Joe had lobbied Cannon on three occasions, one of which was to join with three other lawmakers to press for a congressional hearing. They signed a letter that expressed concerns about a proposed contract — which is subject to approval by the Bush administration — between the Internet's primary oversight body (ICANN) and VeriSign Inc., a $4.2 billion California company. Read Less