BRISTOL – U.S. Rep. David Davis’ re-election fundraising machine has generated more than campaign cash.

Davis (R) first came under fire on June 8 when the BristolHerald Courier, in a front-page story, reported that the freshman congressman is this election season’s leading congressional recipient of donations from a billion-dollar global defense contractor accused of bribing Saudi officials with call girls and money. The donations from BAE Systems, totaling $11,000, began after Davis reportedly requested $4.4 million in federal funding for the federal contractor.

On the same day, the newspaper’s lead editorial said, “ Davis’ contributor sheet…reads like a Who’s Who list of those seeking regulatory breaks and other favors from Congress.”

Davis reportedly issued a news release on June 11 – three days after the Herald Courier report – seeking to contain the controversy, prompting the newspaper’s editorial board to respond with harsh words in the paper’s June 13 editions.

“Federal fundraising records indicate Davis is quite cozy with Big Tobacco, oil and coal companies, health insurers (who profit by denying coverage to the sick) and Florida sugar cane growers,” the newspaper wrote. “He’s gorged himself at the special interest trough. But it is voters who might retch after discovering whose interests Davis protects. As St. Matthew’s Gospel says, one cannot serve two masters.”

The editorial noted that Davis made opposition to earmarks one of his campaign planks in 2006. “Guess he had a change of heart,” said the editorial.

Davis is opposed in the Aug. 7 Republican primary by Johnson City Mayor Phil Roe. Roe has pledged to not accept any campaign contributions from lobbyists, political action committees or other special interests.