WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has hired Los Angeles celebrity attorney Martin Singer for legal work. Reid, D-Nev., paid Singer $25,000 on Dec. 14 from his senatorial campaign account, according to his most recent Federal Election Commission report. The money was described as "legal fees," but no details were given.Reid's spokesman, Jon Summers, said Singer was hired to help Reid respond to a story by The Associated Press that was critical of a Las Vegas land deal involving the senator. He said Reid got approval from the Senate Ethics Committee for the expenditure. Singer did not immediately return a call.
Singer is among Hollywood's most sought-after litigators and has represented Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Britney Spears and Bruce Willis, among others. His specialties include libel, copyright and privacy law.