"Former Space Coast Congressman Tom Feeney always insisted he did nothing wrong in his relationship with corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

After a two-year investigation, the FBI has agreed, dropping its probe of the Republican for a 2003 golf junket he took to Scotland with Abramoff, who used the trips to draw Capitol Hill officials into his influence-peddling web.

The Feeney probe was part of a wide-ranging investigation into Abramoff’s illegal dealings, which landed Abramoff in prison and led to the conviction of several congressional aides, a Bush White House official and former U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio.

Feeney paid his own steep price:

The investigation played a key role in his defeat last year to Democrat Suzanne Kosmas, who easily beat Feeney in a district that includes northern Brevard County.

Feeney tried to put the issue behind him during the campaign, airing a TV commercial in which he called the trip a “rookie mistake.”

A mistake it clearly was."

Get the Story:
Our views: Hard lesson learned (Florida Today 8/5)

Other Opinions:
Scott Maxwell: Feeney isn't the only one to blame (The Orlando Sentinel 8/5)
Editorial: The verdict on Feeney (The Orlando Sentinel 8/5)

Earlier Coverage:
Justice Department drops probe of ex-Rep. Feeney (The Hill 8/2)
Feds end inquiry of Tom Feeney's 2003 golf trip to Scotland with lobbyist Jack Abramoff (The Orlando Sentinel 8/1)