More trouble for Don

[Blue_In_AK]

Young aide's link to Abramoff sheds new light on Marianas bill

By RICHARD MAUER
Anchorage Daily News

Published: April 29, 2007
Last Modified: April 29, 2007 at 04:12 AM

The guilty plea last week by a former senior committee aide to Rep. Don Young sheds new light on the circumstances surrounding Young’s success seven years ago in blocking reforms of the sweatshop industry on the Mariana Islands.

But the plea also raises new questions about why Young, R-Alaska, took the actions he did.

Former Alaskan Mark Zachares, a Mariana Islands official when Young blocked the reforms, admitted Tuesday that he later conspired to illegally use his official position on the House Transportation Committee to enrich disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, once the lobbyist for the island commonwealth.

Zachares admitted engaging in the conspiracy for nearly four years - including more than two years under the noses of Young, the committee chairman, and the committee’s chief of staff, former Alaska state Sen. Lloyd Jones, a long-term Young aide from Ketchikan.

A spokesman for Young said the congressman wouldn’t talk about Zachares. Jones didn’t respond to requests for comment last week. In return for doing Abramoff’s bidding, Zachares received more than $60,000 in cash and benefits plus the promise of a lucrative career working in one of Abramoff’s companies, according to the charges. Zachares, 49, is now cooperating with U.S. prosecutors, who have already notched 11 convictions in the Abramoff scandal.

<snip> -- LOTS MORE. The Daily News is hot on his trail. I hope he goes to jail.

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/story/8838801p-8739449c.html

[Ahgoo]

1. You and Me Both

Hope it stays hot for Young. Sure would do a world of good if he would actually say something but that requires a spine I think.

[northofdenali]

2. Rock on, ADN!!

Maybe Donnie's next Alaska residence will be in Seward..........

[Blue_In_AK]

3. I'm sure the boys would love to see him down there. LOL.