Brownback's Abramhoff connections

[chat_noir]

Brownback blasted for taking money from Abramoff
Wednesday, September 7, 2005

The chief of the Wyandotte Nation criticized Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) for taking "dirty money" from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Brownback has accepted $42,000 from Abramoff, The Native American Times reported. Wyandotte Chief Leaford Bearskin said the donation is tied to Brownback's efforts to block the Wyandotte Nation's casino in downtown Kansas City.

"The Wyandotte Nation has had land in trust in downtown Kansas City, Kansas since 1855. Senator Brownback has gone to great lengths to prevent the Wyandotte Nation from using that land as Congress intended. He even went so far as to include a restrictive rider on every Interior Appropriations bill since reportedly receiving this dirty money from Abramoff," Bearskin said in a statement quoted by the paper.

Bearskin said Brownback should apologize to the tribe. Brownback has introduced a resolution to apologize to Native peoples for their ill treatment by the United States.

http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/010177.asp


Sen. Brownback latest to return Abramoff donations
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), the sponsor of the resolution to apologize to Native peoples for their treatment by the United States, is returning $42,000 in contributions from former tribal clients of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Brownback said four Abramoff tribes donated the money to his defunct Restore America Political Action Committee in 2002. The Associated Press didn't identify which tribes made the contributions.

"Although the four tribes that contributed to his PAC never met with nor asked the senator for any help, Brownback felt it best to donate these funds to charity," a spokesperson said.

In September, Wyandotte Nation Chief Leaford Bearskin had criticized Brownback for accepting "dirty money" from Abramoff. Bearskin said the contribution was tied to Brownback's efforts to block the Wyandotte Nation's casino in downtown Kansas City.

Seperately, Brownback is returning $5,000 from a defense contractor linked to former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who resigned after pleading guilty to accepting bribes.

http://www.indianz.com/News/2005/011847.asp


Contributions to Kansas senator draw criticism (re: KC Casino)

WYANDOTTE, Okla. - Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback has come under fire by the leader of an Oklahoma tribe for allegedly taking money from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is accused of bilking tribes out of millions of dollars.

In a recent press release, Wyandotte Nation Chief Leaford Bearskin said he was ''outraged and so very disappointed to learn that Senator Brownback reportedly received large sums of dirty money from Jack Abramoff, a Washington, D.C. lobbyist who abused the political system for financial gain at the expense of the Native American community.''

Brownback, who earlier this year authored a bill to issue a formal government apology to American Indians for past depredations and harmful policies, is said to have received more than $40,000 from Abramoff.

''We have always wondered why Senator Brownback has tried every possible means to hurt the Wyandotte Nation. I guess Abramoff gave him 40,000 reasons to,'' Bearskin said in the prepared statement.

Phone messages left at Brownback's press office seeking comment were not returned.

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096411580


Sam, we're watching you. :evilgrin:

[deminks]

1. Another donation to "charity"

I want it accounted for. What charity did he donate to? Why did he not give the money back to the tribes?

[atommom]

2. Last I heard, he hadn't decided on a charity. But I'm sure it will be

something "faith-based." I think giving it back to the tribes would be more appropriate.