Lawyer pleads guilty in Abramoff case

[Sean]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/...lea/index.html

Michael Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay and a onetime partner of high-powered Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge Monday. As part of the deal with the Justice Department, Scanlon agreed to testify against Abramoff in a probe that also has implicated at least one member of Congress, two government sources have told CNN. Scanlon was charged Friday with one count of conspiracy as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation of his and Abramoff's lobbying activities. Scanlon, a 35-year-old public relations executive, agreed to pay a $100,000 fine and $19 million in restitution for kickbacks he admitted receiving as part of the conspiracy to defraud his and Abramoff's clients. "He's obviously regretful for the circumstances that bring him here, but he's trying to do what he thinks is right," his attorney, Plato Cacheris, told reporters after the hearing in federal district court. Scanlon was freed on an unsecured $5 million bond pending sentencing. His only comment was: "You guys will be seeing me around." As part of the plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Scanlon admitted plotting to cheat clients and corruptly influence federal officials. Among the high-profile clients of Scanlon and Abramoff were Indian tribes that wanted political access in Washington.

[SteveA]

Even Schwartzeneggar here in CA was pressuring indian reservations into coughing up money for their casinos.

I thought these reservations were effectively sovereign countries ... what gives? My guess is that it's because the state has been monopolizing any and all gambling in CA and doesn't want any competition. (It used to be illegal but since then the state has allowed gambling almost everywhere, as long as one end of the money flow ends up in state selected hands)