NYT: (Abramoff) Corruption Inquiry Threatens to Ensnare Lawmakers

[DeepModem Mom]

Corruption Inquiry Threatens to Ensnare Lawmakers
By PHILIP SHENON
Published: November 20, 2005


WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 - The Justice Department has signaled for the first time in recent weeks that prominent members of Congress could be swept up in the corruption investigation of Jack Abramoff, the former Republican superlobbyist who diverted some of his tens of millions of dollars in fees to provide lavish travel, meals and campaign contributions to the lawmakers whose help he needed most.

The investigation by a federal grand jury, which began more than a year ago, has created alarm on Capitol Hill, especially with the announcement Friday of criminal charges against Michael Scanlon, Mr. Abramoff's former lobbying partner and a former top House aide to Representative Tom DeLay.

The charges against Mr. Scanlon identified no lawmakers by name, but a summary of the case released by the Justice Department accused him of being part of a broad conspiracy to provide "things of value, including money, meals, trips and entertainment to federal public officials in return for agreements to perform official acts" - an attempt at bribery, in other words, or something close to it.

Mr. Abramoff, who is under indictment in a separate bank-fraud case in Florida, has not been charged by the federal grand jury here. But Mr. Scanlon's lawyer says he has agreed to plead guilty and cooperate in the investigation, suggesting that Mr. Abramoff's day in court in Washington is only a matter of time.

Scholars who specialize in the history and operations of Congress say that given the brazenness of Mr. Abramoff's lobbying efforts, as measured by the huge fees he charged clients and the extravagant gifts he showered on friends on Capitol Hill, almost all of them Republicans, the investigation could end up costing several lawmakers their careers, if not their freedom....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/20/politics/20lobby.html

[indepat]

1. Make my day

[Vincardog]

2. About time and it couldn't happen to more deserving bunch of thieves

and scoundrels.

[Trajan]

3. IF only there were actually justice ....

What a beautiful world it would be ....

[UpInArms]

16. I just want to say thank you for posting that image -

it is the epitome of the current MSM and the GOPpiggies -

so utterly childish and immature and self-serving -

sticking their fingers in the ears, closing their eyes and screaming "I can't hear you" to anything that does not agree with their rabid right-wing nut philosophies.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

4. Bring it on, baby!

Bring it on.

[Seedersandleechers]

5. The bug man might actually get exterminated!!!

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. We can only hope

[babylonsister]

6. Music to my ears! nt

[...of J.Temperance]

8. Justice Department signaled for the FIRST time

That prominent members of Congress could be swept up in the Abramoff thing BECAUSE they're now TRYING to make it bi-partisan.

Senator Reid and Senator Landrieu had something to do with getting money from an Indian tribe, whilst they were putting off a rival Indian tribe who wanted another casino in Louisiana.

These bastards are trying to snare Reid and Landrieu into the CESSPIT that is Tom DeLay and his fuckers.

This is why Alberto is signaling for the FIRST time that he's going to sweep up members of Congress.

Please SOMEONE tell me I'm wrong.

:cry:

I hate these pigs.

[dogman]

10. They took the money.

If they are guilty they should not be exempt.

[Up2Late]

9. Awe shucks! I was just getting accustomed to feeling angry and depressed.

Now you've gone and made me smile again, dammit. Oh well. I'm sure they'll do something else soon...:evilgrin:

[laststeamtrain]

11. Restoring integrity to the restoring integrity party...beautiful!

[AlCzervik]

12. I love, love, love this part here:

The department revealed its interest in Mr. DeLay, who is under indictment in Texas in an unrelated investigation involving violations of state election laws, in an extraordinary request to the British government that police there interview former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher about the circumstances of a meeting in London with Mr. DeLay during the trip five years ago.

London newspapers quoted a document prepared by the British Home Office that outlined the Justice Department's investigation and said that "it is alleged that Abramoff arranged for his clients to pay for the trips to the U.K. on the basis that Congressman DeLay would support favorable legislation."


So scuzzy, all of it.

[Lasher]

13. Maybe we won't have to work hard to regain control of Congress.

Maybe all the repugs will be in jail by this time next year.

[me b zola]

14. Maybe Ohio will get cleaned up??

I hope this is the first of the fed's stops.

[maddezmom]

15. WaPo: Witness May Have Pivotal Role in Probe of Alleged Corruption

By Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, November 20, 2005; Page A08

Before he hit his mid-thirties, Michael Scanlon played enough roles to fill a lifetime: lifeguard, press aide to a powerful congressman, multimillionaire public relations entrepreneur.

Now the sandy-haired, buttoned-down Republican -- author of e-mails detailing wildly brash schemes to make money in politics -- is likely to take a turn as a star witness for the prosecution in the Justice Department's investigation of lawmakers, lobbyists, Capitol Hill staffers and executive branch officials.


Scanlon's help could be important to the probe, which focuses on the activities of former influential lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Scanlon was Abramoff's closest business partner at the height of the lobbyist's power, joining in an enterprise that collected $82 million in fees from Indian tribes between 2000 and 2004.

On Friday, Scanlon was charged with conspiracy, accused of plotting with Abramoff to defraud the tribes and bribe government officials, including a member of Congress. He is to appear in court tomorrow to enter a guilty plea worked out with prosecutors who have spent nearly two years sifting through the deals that made Scanlon a rich man almost overnight.


more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/19/AR2005111900937.html

[goforit]

17. Especially Rove and his secretary.

[WhiteTara]

18. and if this sweeps up Harry Reid

then I say Buh Bye little man.

[Peter Frank]

19. I couldn't get your link to work...

Here's another -- http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/11/20/news/lobby.php

The investigation threatens to ensnarl many outside Congress as well, including Interior Department officials and others in the Bush administration who were courted by Abramoff on behalf of the American Indian tribe casinos that were his most lucrative clients.

The inquiry has already reached into the White House: David Safavian, a White House budget official, resigned only days before his arrest in September on charges of lying to investigators about his business ties to Abramoff, a former lobbying partner.

"I think this has the potential to be the biggest scandal in Congress in over a century," said Thomas Mann, a congressional specialist at the Brookings Institution, a research institute. "I've been around Washington for 35 years, watching Congress, and I've never seen anything approaching Abramoff for cynicism and chutzpah in proposing quid pro quos to members of Congress."

Even by the gold-plated standards of Washington lobbying firms, the fees paid to Abramoff were extraordinary.<snip>

[DeepModem Mom]

21. So sorry! It's working for me -- maybe there was a glitch for a while.

Thanks for posting another link, Peter.

[lovuian]

20. I watch this on the tellie and McCain was just shakin his head at the

corruption!!!