The Scarlet Lobbyist, February 4, 2009:
Indeed, just last week, one of Abramoff's underlings, Todd Boulanger, pleaded guilty to plying Capitol Hill aides with tens of thousands of dollars in perks. One all-expenses-paid New York jaunt featured World Series tickets and "admission to and entertainment at a gentleman's club." A Senate staffer received "more than $25,000 worth of tickets, meals and drinks" -- all while performing favors for Boulanger's clients.
.....
There's more!
"Staffer D" is Fraser Verrusio:
Rep. Don Young aide implicated in lobbying scandal, February 3, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) — A second former staffer to an Alaska congressman has been implicated in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation as the scandal sweeps up a growing number of ex-Capitol Hill aides and lobbyists.
Fraser Verrusio, who worked under Republican Rep. Don Young when the congressman chaired the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, figures in plea deals reached recently by two former Abramoff associates and a one-time congressional aide.
Identified in federal court papers only as "Staffer D," he's described accepting an all-expenses-paid trip to Game One of baseball's 2003 World Series from lobbyists who wanted his help.
Two attorneys familiar with the case said Monday that Staffer D is Verrusio, who was policy director on the transportation committee for about five years. The attorneys spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.
.....
Verrusio is the latest aide to be ensnared in the investigation. Todd Boulanger, a former aide to ex-Sen. Bob Smith (R-N.H.) who went on to work with Abramoff at two firms and later join Cassidy & Associates, last week was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Boulanger and another former lobbyist, Kevin Ring, were accused of wining and dining government officials and giving them tens of thousands of dollars in illegal gifts.
Before that, Jim Hirni, a former senior aide to then-Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Tim Hutchison (R-Ark.) who went on to work with Abramoff and ultimately lobby for Wal-Mart, pleaded guilty to one count of honest services fraud last month.
Hirni and Boulanger are also accused of providing illegal gifts to Trevor Blackann, a former staffer to Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Roy Blunt, Missouri Republicans.
Hirni admitted that he provided illegal gifts, including a trip to Game One of the 2003 World Series, to Blackann and Verrusio in return for legislative favors. The illegal activity took place during 2003 and 2004, when Young chaired the Transportation panel.
While working on behalf of an equipment rental client, Hirni admitted that he sought an amendment encouraging state public works agencies to rent rather than purchase construction equipment only from companies that had “large dollar amounts of liability insurance coverage.” Hirni and Boulanger wanted to have the amendment inserted into the federal highway-funding bill.
Another former Young staffer, Mark Zachares, who served as an aide on the committee from 2002 to 2005, pleaded guilty last year to conspiring with Abramoff and accepting $40,000 worth of money and tickets to sporting events and concerts in return for assisting Abramoff.
Verrusio worked on the Transportation panel from 2001 to 2007 when he left to become a lobbyist. Before that time, he served as a policy adviser to then-Rep. Rick Lazio (R-N.Y.).
Fearing bad publicity on several ethics fronts, House Republican leaders forced Young out of the top GOP position on the Natural Resources Committee at the beginning of this Congress.
And that's not all! Today, we learn that
"Staffer F" is Kevin Koonce:
Former Gregg staffer caught up in Abramoff corruption probe, February 4, 2009
WASHINGTON — A former congressional aide to Commerce Secretary-nominee Judd Gregg has been caught up in a long-running investigation into a lobbying scandal.
A person familiar with the case confirmed today that "Staffer F" in court documents is Kevin Koonce, who worked as legislative director in Gregg’s Senate office from 2002-04. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is still under investigation.
Staffer F was cited in a guilty plea last week by Todd Boulanger, a former deputy to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In federal court, Boulanger admitted he plied the staffer with front-row tickets to a hockey game and other tickets to a baseball game, and in exchange received favors in spending legislation.
.....
The biographical detail about Staffer F contained in court documents — his job title at the time in the Senate office — correspond to Koonce’s.
Koonce has not been charged with any crime. He now works at a private firm, Sorini Samet & Associates LLP.
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I so hope this Gregg nomination goes down in flames.
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