Abramoff may strike deal with prosecutors

[Anonymous]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10553782/

Abramoff may strike deal with prosecutors

Plea could mean lobbyist would implicate members of Congress

Updated: 10:14 a.m. ET Dec. 21, 2005
WASHINGTON - A Republican lobbyist at the center of a Capitol Hill bribery probe could cooperate with prosecutors if ongoing plea bargaining negotiations proceed smoothly in coming days, says a person involved in the investigation.

Jack Abramoff could end up pleading guilty under an arrangement that would settle a criminal case against him in Florida as well as potential charges in Washington, said the person close to the probe.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of discussions between prosecutors and Abramoff?s lawyers.

Asked how many members of Congress Abramoff could implicate, the person said only that ?cooperation is cooperation; it?s full cooperation.?

An agreement could be reached quickly, as early as ?the beginning of next week,? though the person cautioned that unspecified issues remain to be worked out.

The New York Times first reported on the talks Tuesday night in a story its Web site.

Abramoff?s attorney, Abbe Lowell, declined to comment, as did Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrakasse.

Talks have been going on ?a long time, months,? but only in the past week or so have they come ?close to any kind of fruition,? the person said.

Gifts for favors
A former aide to ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, has already pleaded guilty in the probe.

Court papers in the plea by former DeLay aide Michael Scanlon say Scanlon and Abramoff ?provided a stream of things of value to public officials in exchange for a series of official acts.?

The court papers referred repeatedly to one of the officials as Representative No. 1, acknowledged by his lawyer to be Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. Both Ney and his lawyer deny wrongdoing.

Recently, members of Congress who accepted campaign donations from Abramoff?s clients have begun returning the money as the investigation ratchets up in intensity.

Among those returning the most money is Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., for an estimated $150,000.

The items included travel, golf fees, frequent meals, entertainment, campaign donations, election support for candidates and employment for officials and their relatives.

The official acts included agreements to support and pass legislation, agreements to place statements in the Congressional Record, agreements to contact officials at executive branch agencies to influence agency decisions, meeting with clients of Abramoff and Scanlon and awarding contracts.

Indian casino scheme
Abramoff has not been charged in the corruption investigation.

Abramoff and Scanlon collected over $80 million from Indian tribes to lobby Congress on casino gambling and other issues.

In the Florida case, Abramoff is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 9. He and a former business partner were indicted last summer on charges of conspiracy and fraud. They allegedly concocted a fake $23 million wire transfer to make it appear they were putting a significant portion of their own money in the 2000 purchase of a fleet of gambling boats.

The ex-business partner, Adam Kidan, pleaded guilty last week and agreed to testify against Abramoff, putting pressure on the Washington lobbyist to reach a settlement to reduce any potential prison term.

© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Anonymous]

Down comes the house of cards!

[Anonymous]

Oooo.  More.  

Report: Spy court judge quits in protest

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/12/21/spyju ... index.html

[Antigen]

On 2005-12-21 09:28:00, Anonymous wrote:

Recently, members of Congress who accepted campaign donations from Abramoff?s clients have begun returning the money as the investigation ratchets up in intensity.

Among those returning the most money is Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., for an estimated $150,000.

The way I see it, we have three options. We can redistribute much of that valuable influence among the people by repealing a bunch of consensual "crime" laws, nanny state regulations and the taxes to fund this boondogle; we can leave it in Jim Tiger and his buddies' competent hands (nice goin', y'old coon dawgs  :wave: ) or we can sit back and watch in wonder and bemusement as they invent lobbying insurance.

I say most of one and a little of 2. 3 is unacceptable.

This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: The freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: Any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.
--John Steinbeck, American novelist

[Antigen]

WayneMadsenReport.com Dec. 15, 2005

STATE BY STATE GOP SCANDAL SCORECARD

State
 Investigation Target
 Disposition
 
Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby
 

Gov. Robert Riley
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff. Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
 
Alaska Senate President Ben Stevens (son of US Senate Pro Tem President Ted Stevens)
Sen. Ted Stevens
 Probed for accepting consulting fees from oil services firm Veco. Subject to a recall petition.
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Arkansas Arkansas Republican Party Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
Arizona Rep. J. D. Hayworth
 

Rep. Rick Renzi
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
 

 

 

 

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham




 

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher

 

Rep. Doug Ose

Rep. Richard Pombo

 

Rep. John Doolittle

 

Rep. Ed Royce
 Ethics probe for accepting salary from two men?s fitness magazines while governor, possible kickback from American Media publisher to Schwarzenegger charity and silence money to a woman who had an extramarital affair with Schwarzenegger. This probe may go criminal.
Probed for bribery regarding financial ties with and favors for defense firm MZM. Pleaded guilty to tax evasion, conspiracy, Nov. 28, 2005.

Tied to Abramoff scandal on loan papers. Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff, including Indian casino money

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Colorado Colorado Republican Party Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
Connecticut Gov. John Rowland
Rep. Rob Simmons

 
 Convicted, imprisoned 2004
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Delaware Attorney General Jane Brady Accused of helping MBNA Bank of Wilmington skirt campaign finance laws.
DC Jack Abramoff, GOP lobbyist
Adam Kidan, DC Dial-a-Mattress franchise owner in DC and Abramoff associate since College Republican days when Abramoff was chairman

 

Michael Scanlon, former chief of staff to Tom DeLay

 

 

S

teve Rosen, American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)

 

Keith Weismann, AIPAC

 

 

Larry Franklin, Colonel, USAF Reserves, Dept. of Defense

 

Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President?s Chief of Staff

 

 

 

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove

 

David H. Safavian, Head of Procurement Policy, Office of Management and Budget, former Chief of Staff, General Service Administration

 

Ex-Corporation for Public Broadcasting Chairman and current Broadcasting Board of Governors member Kenneth Tomlinson

Patricia Harrison, President Corporation for Public Broadcasting

 

Vice President Dick Cheney

 

President George W. Bush

 

 

J. Steven Griles, former Interior Deputy Secretary
 Indicted, wire fraud, conspiracy
Indicted, wire fraud, conspiracy. To plead guilty in return for his testimony against Abramoff

 

 

Being probed for involvement in Indian casino scandal with Abramoff, Kidan, and DeLay. Indicted Nov. 18, 2005 for conspiracy to defraud Indian tribes. Pleaded guilty Nov. 21.

Indicted for criminal conspiracy involving classified national security information

 

Indicted for criminal conspiracy involving classified national security information

Indicted for criminal conspiracy involving classified national security information

 

Probed for illegal disclosure of CIA classified information. Indicted on 5 counts: Obstruction of justice, making false statements and perjury

 

Probed for illegal disclosure of CIA classified information. New Grand Jury investigating Rove

Arrested by FBI for making false statements about helping Jack Abramoff acquire two Federal properties in DC and Maryland.

 

Under investigation for violating the Public Broadcasting Act

 

Probed for violating Public Broadcasting Act

 

Investigated for criminal conspiracy in divulging the identity of covert CIA agent

Probed in Abramoff scandal for accepting bags of illegal campaign cash from Seminole casino interests in Florida

 

Probed for links to Abramoff
 
Florida Rep. Katherine Harris, US Senate candidate
 

Rep. Tom Feeney

 

 

 

Rep. Ric Keller

 
 Probed for campaign donations from MZM, Inc. (related to Duke Cunningham probe)
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff. Probed for corporate ties to Yang Enterprises, involved in over billing state of Florida. Feeney was Jeb Bush?s 1994 running mate for Lt. Gov.

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff and Kidan.
 
Georgia Ralph Reed, candidate for Lt. Gov.
 

Sen. John Isakson

 

Sen. Saxby Chambliss

Rep. Phil Gingrey

 

Rep. Jack Kingston
 Probed for involvement in Abramoff, Kidan, DeLay Indian casino money laundering.
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Guam Gov. Felix Camacho Probed for ties to Abramoff and demoting Acting US Attorney for Guam Frederick Black
Hawaii New Hawaii PAC and House GOP PAC
 

 

Dalton Tanonaka, former Lt. gubernatorial and congressional candidate

 

State Rep. and House Minority Leader Galen Fox
 Campaign violations filed against a number of GOP candidates for the state legislature and US House for skirting spending limits.
Under FEC investigation for disguising and failing to report campaign loans. Also investigated for possible illegal foreign funding from Hong Kong and Japan.

Convicted on federal charges of fondling a woman on a Honolulu to Los Angeles commercial flight
 
Idaho Rep. Michael Simpson
 

Rep. Butch Otter
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Illinois House Speaker Dennis Hastert
Rep. Jerry Weller

 

 

 

 

Republican National Treasurer Bob Kjellander

 

Former House Leader State Rep. Lee Daniels (Elmhurst)
 Probed for accepting money from Turkey.
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff (Weller is married to the daughter of Guatemalan dictator and mass murderer [300,0000 Guatemalans] Efrain Rios Montt).

Under Federal probe for steering investment contracts to Illinois Teachers Retirement Fund.

Under Federal investigation for misuse of state employees for political activity and state contract kickbacks
 
Indiana Rep. Dan Burton
 

Gov. Mitch Daniels

 

 

 

Thomas Sharp, INDOT Commissioner

 

Jim Kittle, GOP state chairman

Rep. Chris Chocola
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Under investigation for soliciting campaign donations in return for INDOT (Indiana Dept. of Transportation contracts)

Under investigation for soliciting campaign donations in return for INDOT (Indiana Dept. of Transportation contracts)

Under investigation for soliciting campaign donations in return for INDOT (Indiana Dept. of Transportation contracts)                     Received DeLay ARMPAC money. FEC investigating
 
Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Kansas Rep. Jim Ryun
 

Sen. Sam Brownback

 

Adam Taff
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

2004 congressional candidate (KS-3), indicted for campaign violations amnd wire fraud.
 
Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher
 

 

 

Transportation Commissioner Dan Druen

Deputy Personnel Secretary Bob Wilson

Darrell Brock, Chairman of Kentucky GOP

Gov. Personnel Adviser Basil Turbyfill

Transportation Secretary ill Nighbert

Dick Murgatroyd, Gov. Deputy Chief of Staff

Jim Adams, Deputy Transportation Secretary

Cory Meadows, Executive Director, Transportation Dept.

Environmental Protection Commissioner Lloyd Cress

Sen. Jim Bunning

 

Lt. Gov. Stephen Pence

 

Dave Disponett
 Criminal probe in a state employees? merit system scandal. Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff.
 

Merit system scandal, witness tampering. Indicted.

Merit system scandal. Indicted

Merit system scandal. Indicted.

Merit system scandal. Indicted

Merit system scandal. Indicted

Merit system scandal. Indicted

Merit system scandal. Indicted.

Merit system scandal. Indicted.

Probed in merit system scandal

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff  

Indicted for violation of Kentucky civil service law                          

 

 
 
Louisiana Sen. David Vitter Linked to Abramoff in a case involving a Louisiana Indian tribe.
Maine Maine Republican Party Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
Maryland Joseph Steffen, aide to Gov. Bob Ehrlich
 

Gov. Bob Ehrlich
 Resigned for starting a rumor campaign against Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley.
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney?s Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
 

 

Lawrence Novak, Vice Chair, state GOP
 Under ethics cloud for awarding a $10,000 contract to conservative Boston Herald columnist to write columns supportive of Romney?s policies.
 

Arrested by FBI for drug money laundering
 
Michigan Rep. Dave Camp
 

Attorney General Mike Cox

 

 

Rep. Candice Miller
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Failed to pursue felony pollution charges against Graceland Fruit after a major Department of Environmental Quality investigation.

Investigated by House Erthics Committee for accepting campaign contributions in return for her yes vote on the 2004 Medicare bill.
 
Minnesota Rep. Gil Gutknecht Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Missouri Sen. Christopher Bond
 

Sen. Jim Talent

 

Gov. Matt Blunt, son of Roy Blunt

Rep. Roy Blunt, House Majority Leader
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff

Investigated for trading illegal PAC money with DeLay through Blunt's Rely on Your Beliefs Fund. Received Indian casino money from tribes represented by Abramoff.
 
Mississippi Rep. Charles Pickering
 

Rep. Roger Wicker

Sen. Thad Cochran

 

Sen. Trent Lott
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Received funds from casino Indian tribes represented by Abramoff
 
Montana Sen. Conrad Burns
Rep. Dennis Rehberg
 Probed for links to Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Nebraska Former Rep. Jon Christensen
 

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Received tainted money from DeLay. Refused to return it.
 
Nevada Sen. John Ensign
 

Rep. Jon Porter
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Received $25,000 from DeLay's ARMPAC
 
New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu
 

Rep. Jeb Bradley

 

House Speaker Gene Chandler

James Tobin, Northeast political director National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee

 

Chuck McGee, former Exec. Dir. New Hampshire Republican Party

 

Allen Raymond, GOP Marketplace President
 Probed for receipt of money from DeLay tainted PAC
Probed for receipt of money from DeLay tainted PAC

 

Campaign contributions violations

Indicted, conspiracy, GOTV phone line jamming, Sununu 2002 campaign. Convicted Dec. 15, on 2 telephone harassment charges.

 

Pleaded guilty, conspiracy, GOTV phone line jamming, Sununu 2002 campaign

Pleaded guilty to conspiracy, GOTV phone line jamming, Sununu 2002 campaign
 
New Jersey GOP State Chairman Tom Wilson
 

Rep. Jim Saxton

 

Rep. Frank LoBiondo

Rep. Mike Ferguson
 Probed for his firm receiving $2.7 million from the Burlington County Bridge Commission
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff, may have illegally "wheeled" money from DeLay through his "MIKEPAC" to GOP candidates in Texas and other states
 
New Mexico Rep. Heather Wilson Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
New York Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro and US Senate candidate Probed for campaign donations from mobsters. Her husband served a year in prison for tax evasion.
Northern Marianas Gov. Froilan Tenorio Grand Jury probe, ties to Abramoff
North Carolina Rep. Charles Taylor
 

 

Hayes Martin, Taylor Campaign Treasurer

 

Rep. Walter Jones
 Probed for ownership of shady Russian bank ? whose other major investor is a former KGB general. Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Indicted, fraud and money laundering

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
North Dakota Richard Clayburgh, House candidate Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
Ohio
 

 

 

 

 
 Gov. Bob Taft, Misuse of state funds/ethics violations
 

 

 

Thomas Noe, Bush-Cheney 04 campaign chair, NW Ohio; Turnpike Commissioner; University Regent

Bernadette Noe, Thomas Noe?s wife; chair Lucas County GOP; chair Lucas Co. Board of Elections

Brian Hicks, Taft chief of staff, member Ohio University Board of Trustees

Cherie Carroll, Taft Chief of Staff Executive Secretary

 

Rep. Bob Ney

 

 

 

 

Rep. Jean Schmidt

 

 

 

Rep. Ralph Regula

 

Douglas Moormann, Gov. Taft's Executive Assistant for Business and Industry

Walden O'Dell, Chairman & CEO of Diebold, Bush-Cheney major campaign contributor who promised to "deliver" Ohio to Bush in 2004
 Convicted, four first degree misdemeanors, pleaded no contest (admission of guilt). $4000 fine and public apology, two Federal Grand Juries, one state Grand Jury still investigating Taft.
 

Misuse of state funds for rare coin fund. Indicted by Federal grand jury, arrested in Florida.

Misuse of state funds

 

 

Convicted

 

Convicted

 

Being probed for involvement with Abramoff, Kidan, and DeLay, Indian casino money laundering. Recipient of contributions from Abramoff and Kidan. Indictment may be imminent.

Probe of financial ties to Games, Inc., and proposal to put Ohio State Lottery on the Internet. Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff

 

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

 

Under criminal investigation for accepting loan from Noe.

Resigned for "personal reasons" Dec. 13, 2005 after initiation of a class action lawsuit against Diebold for securities fraud.
 
Oklahoma Rep. Ernest Istook
 

Sen. James Inhofe

Sen. Tom Coburn
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith
 

State Rep. Dan Doyle
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Misused campaign funds. Convicted.
 
Pennsylvania Rep. Don Sherwood
 

 

Rep. Curt Weldon

Sen. Arlen Specter

Rep. Joe Pitts

 

Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick
 Investigated by DC police for assaulting and choking a 29-year old Maryland woman
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of money from DeLay's ARMPAC (subject of Federal indictments), money laundered from Abramoff sources.
 
Puerto Rico Puerto Rican New Progressive Party (GOP affiliate party) Paid Abramoff $400,000 for lobbying for 1998 statehood referendum
Rhode Island Former House candidate (2002) Mike Battles
 

 

Providence Mayor Vince Cianci
 Firm, Custer Battles, disbarred from Iraq contracts after allegations of over charging and money laundering
Imprisoned in 2002 for 5 years.
 
South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson
 

Rep. Gresham Barrett

 

Rep. Henry Brown
 Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff

Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
 
South Dakota Sen. John Thune
 

Rep. Bill Janklow
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Guilty, second degree manslaughter, imprisoned. Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 
Tennessee Rep. Van Hilleary
Sen. Bill Frist
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Under Securities and Exchange Commission investigation for insider trading on his Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) stock
 
Texas Rep. Tom DeLay, House Majority Leader
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Ellis, Director Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC) PAC tied to DeLay and Abramoff

 

John Colyandro, Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC), DeLay associate

Warren RoBold, Lobbyist and DeLay associate

House Speaker Tom Craddick

 

Sam Walls, candidate for Texas House

 

State Rep. Todd Baxter

 

 

Rep. Kevin Brady

 

Rep. Pete Sessions
 Probed for campaign finance fraud, ties to Abramoff/Kidan, Saipan sweat shops. Grand Jury, Travis County prosecutor, and House Ethics Committee probing DeLay. Indicted by Travis County District Attorney for 1 count of criminal conspiracy and 2 counts of money laundering. Arrested and booked at Harris County jail October 20, 2005. Recipient of contributions from Abramoff. Conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering charges still stand after Texas Judge dropped the one count of criminal conspiracy on December 5, 2005.
Indicted

 

 

 

Indicted

 

Indicted

 

Probed for campaign violations involving TRMPAC and DeLay

Photos of him wearing women?s clothes surfaced in the 2004 runoff campaign

Investigated for receiving ARMPAC and TRMPAC money from Republican National Committee. To resign from office on Nov. 1, 2005

Recipient of $10,000 from ARMPAC in 2003. Arrested for DWI in South Dakota.

Probed for receiving money from casino Indian tribes represented by Abramoff
 
Utah Rep. Chris Cannon Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas Opposition to universal health care in Vermont tied to huge contributions from insurance industry.
Virginia Rep. Virgil Goode
 

Jerry Kilgore, gubernatorial candidate

Rep. Eric Cantor

 

Rep. Randy Forbes

Sen. George Allen

 

Rep. Tom Davis

 
 Probed for contributions from MZM, Inc. (related to Duke Cunningham probe)
Received $5000 from MZM, Inc.

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Recipient of contributions from Abramoff and Kidan.
 
Washington Rep. George Nethercutt
 

Rep. Doc Hastings

Spokane Mayor Jim West
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff

Under Federal and state investigation for abusing his office to obtain sexual favors and soliciting sex over the Internet from underage males. Recalled Dec. 6, 2005 by a 2-1 margin.
 
West Virginia Rep. Shelly Moore Capito Received contributions from. DeLay?s ARMPAC, linked to Abramoff
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan
 

Rep. Mark Green
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of funds from DeLay's ARMPAC
 
Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi
Rep. Barbara Cubin
 Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
Recipient of contributions from Abramoff
 

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.

--Anonymous

[Antigen]

http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/gopscorecard.htm

Impiety: Your irreverence toward my deity.
--Ambrose Bierce

[Anonymous]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washi ... donations/

Dozens send back lobbyist's donations
Lawmakers fear link to Abramoff

Dozens send back lobbyist's donations
Lawmakers fear link to Abramoff
By Susan Milligan, Globe Staff  |  January 2, 2006

WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress who once counted on super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff to help finance their campaigns have begun returning the cash they got from him and his clients, signaling a growing worry that ethics -- and the scandal surrounding Abramoff -- will become issues that could affect close House and Senate races in next year's midterm elections.

Abramoff, a powerful Washington figure who owned a tony restaurant frequented by members of Congress, is under federal investigation for allegedly swindling American Indian tribes out of millions of dollars in lobbying fees and contributions to Abramoff's associates.

With a court date looming Jan. 9 -- and the possibility that Abramoff will cut a deal with prosecutors before that date -- at least two dozen lawmakers have refunded money they fear could look tainted by Election Day in November.

''They're obviously worried," said Michael Malbin, director of the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute. ''If people get disgusted by the relationship between the people in power and the lobbyists, [Abramoff] is going to become their poster boy."

If a lawmaker is not personally tied to any possible illegal activity involving Abramoff, then giving the money back could burnish his or her image with voters, Malbin said.

But if, as many political analysts suspect, some senators or House members are linked to Abramoff and potentially illegal activity, Malbin said, then ''returning the check won't begin to take care of the problem."

Montana Senators Max Baucus, a Democrat, and Conrad Burns, a Republican, were the latest to return Abramoff-connected cash.

Baucus returned $18,892, including $1,892 he had failed to report for use of Abramoff's skybox at a Washington, D.C., sports arena.

Burns, who has been targeted by Democrats in November's election, gave back $150,000 in contributions before Christmas, reversing an earlier position that he would not return the money.

''The contributions given to my political committees by Jack Abramoff and his clients, while legal and fully disclosed, have served to undermine the public's confidence in its government," Burns said in a statement explaining his reversal.

A Burns aide said the senator has not been implicated in any of the Abramoff investigations, and has not hired a lawyer to handle the case.

Abramoff's dealings are the subject of a Senate probe and a criminal investigation.

Among the deals being scrutinized are contributions from the tribes who hired Abramoff to politicians and political groups associated with him, and overseas trips paid for by Abramoff and involving Tom DeLay, former House majority leader and Republican of Texas, among other political figures.

Capitol Hill sources have also suggested that Abramoff gave free meals and drinks at his restaurant to lawmakers, in violation of a congressional rule barring gifts worth more than $50.Continued...

Some political strategists and congressmen believe it's not necessary to return campaign donations simply because the contributor is under investigation.

Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the committee has not recommend to GOP candidates that they return money from Abramoff or his clients.

But on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are uneasy, worried that any connection to Abramoff could become a campaign liability that far outweighs the campaign help he may have given them.

Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat who, like Burns, sits on a congressional committee that oversees Indian tribes' issues, returned $67,000 in Abramoff-related donations a few days before Burns and Baucus gave back their campaign cash.

''Members of Congress try to hold onto as much money as possible, until it becomes politically distasteful to hold onto it," said David Donnelly, national campaigns director for the Public Campaign Action Fund.

He predicted that lawmakers who accepted contributions from Abramoff may face serious questions from their constituents on the campaign trail.

''What it does is shine a very bright light on our campaign finance system," he said.

Democrats intend to make ethics an issue against Republicans in next year's elections, using the indictments of DeLay on money-laundering charges unrelated to the Abramoff probe, and former vice presidential aide I. Lewis ''Scooter" Libby for allegedly lying to a grand jury, to paint the GOP as a party immersed in scandal.

New Hampshire Democrats have hounded the state's GOP representatives, Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley, to give back contributions they received from a DeLay political action committee.

Bradley has returned such campaign contributions; Bass hasn't, but has called for DeLay to be replaced as the House leader.

Democratic strategists compare the current series of Republican ethics headaches to the House banking scandal in the early 1990s, when dozens of lawmakers were found to have repeatedly written bad personal checks on their House bank accounts, some racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in overdrafts -- without penalties.

Democrats believe the ensuing voter anger contributed to their loss of dozens of seats in 2004, giving control of the chamber to Republicans.

The Abramoff and DeLay cases, Democrats believe, could help them pick up some seats next year and perhaps even regain majority control of the House.

''My sense of this is that voters are cynical and angry to start, and that more scandal just makes matters worse," said Peter Fenn, a veteran Democratic consultant and former congressional staffer.

He noted that former House speaker Jim Wright, Democrat of Texas, was forced to resign from Congress in 1989 because lobbyists bought large quantities of his books, then handed them out at fund-raisers.

The Abramoff case ''is clearly a much bigger scandal than the House bank or a book," Fenn said.

But while DeLay limited his handouts to fellow Republicans, Abramoff spread his money around to lawmakers and candidates in both parties.

According to an analysis prepared by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Abramoff and his clients doled out more than $4.4 million to candidates since 2000, with $1.5 million of the money going to Democrats.

While Democrats seek to taint Burns with the Abramoff scandal, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has gone on the offense, pointing out that Abramoff gave cash not only to Baucus, but to Harry Reid of Nevada, Senate minority leader and the Democrats' leader. Cont'd page 2

Page 2
WASHINGTON -- Members of Congress who once counted on super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff to help finance their campaigns have begun returning the cash they got from him and his clients, signaling a growing worry that ethics -- and the scandal surrounding Abramoff -- will become issues that could affect close House and Senate races in next year's midterm elections.

Abramoff, a powerful Washington figure who owned a tony restaurant frequented by members of Congress, is under federal investigation for allegedly swindling American Indian tribes out of millions of dollars in lobbying fees and contributions to Abramoff's associates.

With a court date looming Jan. 9 -- and the possibility that Abramoff will cut a deal with prosecutors before that date -- at least two dozen lawmakers have refunded money they fear could look tainted by Election Day in November.

''They're obviously worried," said Michael Malbin, director of the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute. ''If people get disgusted by the relationship between the people in power and the lobbyists, [Abramoff] is going to become their poster boy."

If a lawmaker is not personally tied to any possible illegal activity involving Abramoff, then giving the money back could burnish his or her image with voters, Malbin said.

But if, as many political analysts suspect, some senators or House members are linked to Abramoff and potentially illegal activity, Malbin said, then ''returning the check won't begin to take care of the problem."

Montana Senators Max Baucus, a Democrat, and Conrad Burns, a Republican, were the latest to return Abramoff-connected cash.

Baucus returned $18,892, including $1,892 he had failed to report for use of Abramoff's skybox at a Washington, D.C., sports arena.

Burns, who has been targeted by Democrats in November's election, gave back $150,000 in contributions before Christmas, reversing an earlier position that he would not return the money.

''The contributions given to my political committees by Jack Abramoff and his clients, while legal and fully disclosed, have served to undermine the public's confidence in its government," Burns said in a statement explaining his reversal.

A Burns aide said the senator has not been implicated in any of the Abramoff investigations, and has not hired a lawyer to handle the case.

Abramoff's dealings are the subject of a Senate probe and a criminal investigation.

Among the deals being scrutinized are contributions from the tribes who hired Abramoff to politicians and political groups associated with him, and overseas trips paid for by Abramoff and involving Tom DeLay, former House majority leader and Republican of Texas, among other political figures.

Capitol Hill sources have also suggested that Abramoff gave free meals and drinks at his restaurant to lawmakers, in violation of a congressional rule barring gifts worth more than $50.

Page 2 of 2 --Some political strategists and congressmen believe it's not necessary to return campaign donations simply because the contributor is under investigation.

Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said the committee has not recommend to GOP candidates that they return money from Abramoff or his clients.

But on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are uneasy, worried that any connection to Abramoff could become a campaign liability that far outweighs the campaign help he may have given them.

Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat who, like Burns, sits on a congressional committee that oversees Indian tribes' issues, returned $67,000 in Abramoff-related donations a few days before Burns and Baucus gave back their campaign cash.

''Members of Congress try to hold onto as much money as possible, until it becomes politically distasteful to hold onto it," said David Donnelly, national campaigns director for the Public Campaign Action Fund.

He predicted that lawmakers who accepted contributions from Abramoff may face serious questions from their constituents on the campaign trail.

''What it does is shine a very bright light on our campaign finance system," he said.

Democrats intend to make ethics an issue against Republicans in next year's elections, using the indictments of DeLay on money-laundering charges unrelated to the Abramoff probe, and former vice presidential aide I. Lewis ''Scooter" Libby for allegedly lying to a grand jury, to paint the GOP as a party immersed in scandal.

New Hampshire Democrats have hounded the state's GOP representatives, Charles Bass and Jeb Bradley, to give back contributions they received from a DeLay political action committee.

Bradley has returned such campaign contributions; Bass hasn't, but has called for DeLay to be replaced as the House leader.

Democratic strategists compare the current series of Republican ethics headaches to the House banking scandal in the early 1990s, when dozens of lawmakers were found to have repeatedly written bad personal checks on their House bank accounts, some racking up hundreds of thousands of dollars in overdrafts -- without penalties.

Democrats believe the ensuing voter anger contributed to their loss of dozens of seats in 2004, giving control of the chamber to Republicans.

The Abramoff and DeLay cases, Democrats believe, could help them pick up some seats next year and perhaps even regain majority control of the House.

''My sense of this is that voters are cynical and angry to start, and that more scandal just makes matters worse," said Peter Fenn, a veteran Democratic consultant and former congressional staffer.

He noted that former House speaker Jim Wright, Democrat of Texas, was forced to resign from Congress in 1989 because lobbyists bought large quantities of his books, then handed them out at fund-raisers.

The Abramoff case ''is clearly a much bigger scandal than the House bank or a book," Fenn said.

But while DeLay limited his handouts to fellow Republicans, Abramoff spread his money around to lawmakers and candidates in both parties.

According to an analysis prepared by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Abramoff and his clients doled out more than $4.4 million to candidates since 2000, with $1.5 million of the money going to Democrats.

While Democrats seek to taint Burns with the Abramoff scandal, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has gone on the offense, pointing out that Abramoff gave cash not only to Baucus, but to Harry Reid of Nevada, Senate minority leader and the Democrats' leader.

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

[Anonymous]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/03/ ... index.html

Source: Lobbyist to plead guilty to fraud, other charges
Abramoff agrees to cooperate with federal prosecutors


Tuesday, January 3, 2006; Posted: 11:05 a.m. EST (16:05 GMT)


Lobbyist Jack Abramoff has entered a cooperation deal with federal prosecutors, a source says.  

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former high-powered lobbyist Jack Abramoff will plead guilty Tuesday to corruption, fraud and tax evasion charges in a deal with federal prosecutors, a source close to the negotiations told CNN.

Abramoff has reached an agreement that would spare him the maximum 10-year sentence if he cooperates in an ongoing Washington corruption probe, the source said.

Abramoff is a longtime associate of several top GOP leaders, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Americans for Tax Reform director Grover Norquist, and former Christian Coalition chief Ralph Reed. (Watch details of the deal -- 4:11)

Abramoff's cooperation deal could have a wide-reaching effect in Washington.

Ripple effect
Sources told CNN's Ed Henry that the former lobbyist may have thousands of e-mails in which he describes influence-peddling and explains what lawmakers were doing in exchange for the money he was putting into their campaign coffers.

The source close to the investigation said investigators are looking at about half a dozen members of Congress.

Sources said Abramoff has been cooperating with the Justice Department for months without any kind of plea deal. He will not be sentenced until his cooperation is complete, the source added. (Read a summary of the charges -- PDF)

Michael Scanlon, another former Abramoff associate, pleaded guilty in November in a separate case in Washington.

Prosecutors accused Scanlon in court papers of conspiring to "corruptly offer and provide things of value, including money, meals, trips and entertainment, to federal public officials in return for agreements to perform official acts" benefiting Scanlon and his lobbyist partner.

The partner is identified in the court documents only as Lobbyist A and is not facing charges in the corruption investigation. One government official told CNN that Lobbyist A is Abramoff.

Corruption alleged
The government alleged that between January 2000 and April 2004, Scanlon and the lobbyist "would falsely represent to their clients that certain of the funds were being used for specific purposes."

In fact, prosecutors said, "Scanlon and Lobbyist A would use those funds for their own personal benefit and not for the benefit of their clients."

"It was a purpose of the conspiracy for Scanlon and Lobbyist A to enrich themselves by obtaining substantial funds from their clients through fraud and concealment and through obtaining benefits for their clients through corrupt means," the prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also detailed a "stream of things of value" given to an unnamed congressman, identified in the court documents as Representative No. 1.

The items listed include a "lavish" trip to Scotland to play golf, tickets to sporting events and campaign contributions to the representative and his political action committee in exchange for a series of actions by that representative.

The Justice Department would not identify the congressman. But government sources have said he is Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio, chairman of the House Administration Committee.

In the court documents, prosecutors alleged Scanlon and Lobbyist A got the lawmaker "to perform a series of official acts."

Ney denies wrongdoing
According to the documents, those acts included supporting bills, placing statements in the Congressional Record, meeting with the lobbyists' clients and supporting a client of Abramoff's in a bid to win a contract for wireless telephone service for the House of Representatives.

Ney is known to have entered comments in the Congressional Record against a man standing in the way of an Abramoff project, and he took a 2002 golf trip to Scotland that Abramoff sponsored.

Ney's office has said that any allegation that the congressman "did anything illegal or improper is false."

Ney is the only member of Congress to disclose that he has been subpoenaed as part of the investigation -- a step required under House rules.

Abramoff's name also surfaced earlier this year amid ethics questions about DeLay, a longtime friend. The Washington Post has reported DeLay took two expensive overseas trips that Abramoff and other lobbyists bankrolled -- a violation of House rules, if true.

DeLay has denied wrongdoing, calling the report "just another seedy attempt by the liberal media to embarrass me."

DeLay, who himself is facing money laundering charges, was forced to step down from his leadership position in September after he was indicted on conspiracy charges that were later dropped.

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, Kevin Bohn and Ed Henry contributed to this report.

[Anonymous]

United States v. Jack A. Abramoff criminal complaint.

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2006/images/01/03/abramoff.pdf

[Anonymous]

Bush Campaign Getting Rid Of Lobbyist's Money


http://www.theksbwchannel.com/news/5839911/detail.html

[Anonymous]

What did Moses do for 40 years in the desert?
What was Abram's wife's main method of birth control?
What do you have to do to get a drink around here?
What is Jack Off's middle name?  Abram.

I mean how fucking ironic can it be that the major shyster of modern times was honestly labeled all along? Jack Abram Off. (O.K., but will he Jack me Off too?)  

How many Injuns does it take to Jack Abram Off? Answer: Only a few, but they have to be Gentile. (offends 3 races!--tripple racist joke!)

It seems commanding and instructional someway. "What should I do General?"  "Go and Jack Abram Off!" "Yes Sir!"

"What's your name, son?"  "Jack Abram Off."  "No shit!"

"Hello, my name is Jack Abram Off." "Jesus H. Christ! Pleased to meet you!
This is Holy Fucking Shit. And this is my friend, Garan God Damned Tee You. "

Lobbyist-Business Card: -"Wanna be sure you don't get fucked by Congress? Jack Abram off!"

Jack Abramoff is a Jerk! ?

What's up Jack?

He finally agreed to cooperate when they said, "We caught you red handed, Jack. There is only one way you can get off."