Abramoff to plead guilty to fraud, other charges

[bishop]

article

Lobbyist agrees to cooperate with federal prosecutors WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former high-powered lobbyist Jack Abramoff will plead guilty Tuesday to corruption, fraud, tax evasion charges in a cooperation deal with federal prosecutors, a source close to the negotiations told CNN. Abramoff has reached an agreement that would spare him the maximum 10-year sentence if he cooperates in an ongoing Washington corruption probe, the source said. Abramoff is a longtime associate of several top GOP leaders, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Americans for Tax Reform director Grover Norquist, and former Christian Coalition chief Ralph Reed. The source said Abramoff has been cooperating with the Justice Department for more than a year now, without any kind of plea deal. He will not be sentenced until his cooperation is complete, the source added. However, another source close to the investigation told CNN the cooperation has only been going on for a few months. Michael Scanlon, another former Abramoff associate, pleaded guilty in November in a separate case in Washington. Prosecutors accused Scanlon in court papers of conspiring to "corruptly offer and provide things of value, including money, meals, trips and entertainment, to federal public officials in return for agreements to perform official acts" benefiting Scanlon and his lobbyist partner. The partner is identified in the court documents only as Lobbyist A and is not facing charges in the corruption investigation. One government official told CNN that Lobbyist A is Abramoff. The government alleged that between January 2000 and April 2004, Scanlon and the lobbyist "would falsely represent to their clients that certain of the funds were being used for specific purposes." In fact, prosecutors said, "Scanlon and Lobbyist A would use those funds for their own personal benefit and not for the benefit of their clients." "It was a purpose of the conspiracy for Scanlon and Lobbyist A to enrich themselves by obtaining substantial funds from their clients through fraud and concealment and through obtaining benefits for their clients through corrupt means," the prosecutors said. Prosecutors also detailed a "stream of things of value" given to an unnamed congressman, identified in the court documents as Representative No. 1. The items listed include a "lavish" trip to Scotland to play golf, tickets to sporting events and campaign contributions to the representative and his political action committee in exchange for a series of actions by that representative. The Justice Department would not identify the congressman. But government sources have said he is Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio, chairman of the House Administration Committee. In the court documents, prosecutors alleged Scanlon and Lobbyist A got the lawmaker "to perform a series of official acts." According to the documents, those acts included supporting bills, placing statements in the Congressional Record, meeting with the lobbyists' clients and supporting a client of Abramoff's in a bid to wire the House of Representatives for wireless telephone service. Ney's office has said that any allegation that the congressman "did anything illegal or improper is false." Ney is the only member of Congress to disclose that he has been subpoenaed as part of the investigation -- a step required under House rules. Abramoff's name also surfaced earlier this year amid ethics questions about DeLay, a longtime friend. The Washington Post has reported DeLay took two expensive overseas trips that Abramoff and other lobbyists bankrolled -- a violation of House rules, if true. DeLay has denied wrongdoing, calling the report "just another seedy attempt by the liberal media to embarrass me." The Texas Republican was forced by House rules to step down as majority leader after he was indicted October 3 by a Texas grand jury on unrelated felony charges of conspiracy and money laundering.

[RickSp]

Let's hope justice is served. This should be fun to watch.

[PatrickHenry]

Do you think some politicians in Washington DC are feeling a little nervous just now? Heehee!

[bishop]

i'm certain they're scared.

this guy had financial relationships with at least a dozen to thirty members of government (i forget what i just heard on headline news)... and given this guy's affiliations, i'd bet that the overwhelming majority of his buddies are republicans.

i hope this lands some of the corrupt bastards in government a cushy bed in prison.

[Scribbler1]

Personally, I don't think it will be anywhere NEAR the scandal it looks like it could be. There are just too many connected people to possibly go down all at once.

Now, what will probably happen to members of these politicians' STAFFS, I shudder to think of it.

[underbear1]

Jack Abramoff is a huge sissy that's not going down alone, he is singing like a Diva. Believe me he will wreck over 20 Congresspeople's careers, they may not get indicted, but they won't be re-elected either. Howard Dean start making the ads and brochures of all the candidates we'll beat in 2006 with Abramoff standing right next to them. Delay is TOAST and so is Ralph Reed's bid for Georgia governor.Abramoff will be the gift that just keeps on giving.

[jose]

Maybe Abramoff should be on er ¨suicided¨ watch

[underbear1]

They don't need Abramoff anymore I'm sure the authorities already have all of his signed statements of confessions, whether Jack is alive or dead, this investigation has moved beyond him now.
Jack might want to talk to Martha Stewart about surviving the rigors of Camp Cupcake, because I doubt if he's rolled over enough to reduce his sentence from 30 years to 10 years, it's going to be at a rough federal prison. Jack learn to crochet fabulous ponchos, it'll make the 10 years go faster.

[SteveA]

Thank you for posting this, Bishop.

I remember when they intimidated the Indian casinos enough to cough up taxes here in CA. Schwartzenneger was the figurehead for the push here ...

[Osborn F Enready]

The partisan hacks on both Fox and CNN are spinning as we speak to control damage to their own.

They both know the parties are equally corrupt and are plugging the holes in the dam with every appedage they can muster....

NOW is the time for pressure about accountability to your local reps people, WARM UP THOSE KEYBOARDS!!

[brien]

Quote by: bishop article

It is about time. Stick a fork in them. They're done.

[underbear1]

Here's a killer 2006 catch phrase

Hastert, Ney, Delay, Reed
Bought for Jack Abramoff's chump change

2006 the year to change the chumps

[nm420]

Since when does a scandal of this nature ever have that serious of repercussions? Sure, a few people may get burned, but the ones who step up to fill in the ranks will be just as corrupt, only a bit more careful in their dealings. Still, I would get a certain satisfaction in watching at least a few of those giants fall...

[underbear1]

The taint of Abramoff will be a tsunami through both Houses of Congress, Georgia Governor race and the White House, those not indicted, will be considered so ethicly challenged, their careers are OVER!

[Osborn F Enready]

This should be "THE" excuse for an onslaught of investigative independent reporters and journalists to investigate the whole system, and all its players.

Our goals now should be locating and tracking any and all corruption, and rooting it out with extreme prejudice, regardless of party jacket or political or corporate affiliations.

It would help if all people who read this, write in to their reps and demand action like this, and I am.

[bishop]

good thinking osborn.... i think i'll do the same myself.

i've looked around, but right now i can't see if this guy had any ties to democrats - it seems like all of his corrupt tentacles touched other corrupt republicans. regardless, i hope to see each and every lawmaker exposed if they did have illegal/corrupt dealings with him.

this bit of news is probably pretty good for eliminating GOP control over congress. it's also good fodder for 3rd parties should they successfully use it alongside a solid campaign platform (and solid candidates)..

[lsbskins1]

I don't care if they are Republicans or Democrats or Green Party. If they took pay-offs or golf vacations or whatever, I want them gone. Corruption does not respect party lines. Alot of people, on both sides of the asile, have sold their souls to the Gods of the Re-Election War Chest (or Election War Chest). It has to be stopped. I think you will find that Big Money prefers conservative chests, but where they think it can help, they hedge their bets. And they expect something for their money. The burden of proof required in a court of law is high, as it should be, but the burden of proof in the court of public opinion is another matter, and even where the court room standard can not be met, I hope people have the good sense to realize that that does not mean someone is innocent.

[Apeman81]

Quote by: underbear1 Jack Abramoff is a huge sissy that's not going down alone, he is singing like a Diva. Believe me he will wreck over 20 Congresspeople's careers, they may not get indicted, but they won't be re-elected either. Howard Dean start making the ads and brochures of all the candidates we'll beat in 2006 with Abramoff standing right next to them. Delay is TOAST and so is Ralph Reed's bid for Georgia governor.Abramoff will be the gift that just keeps on giving.

Surely you're no so unwise as to believe that this lobbyist only dealt with Republicans?

Open your eyes and set yourself free from the dogmatic ignorance of blind party loyalty.

[RickSp]

Quote by: Apeman81 Surely you're no so unwise as to believe that this lobbyist only dealt with Republicans? Open your eyes and set yourself free from the dogmatic ignorance of blind party loyalty.

Read a damn newspaper. Your rants about "dogmatic ignorance" wouldn't look so foolish if you were at least a little informed. My guess is that you have never heard of the "K Street Project."

The K Street Project is a project by the Republican Party to pressure Washington lobbying firms to hire Republicans in top positions, and to reward loyal GOP lobbyists with access to influential officials. It was launched in 1995, by Republican strategist Grover Norquist and House majority leader Tom DeLay. K Street in Washington DC is where the big lobbying firms have their headquarters and is sometimes refered to as the fourth branch of government. Lobbying firms have great influence in U.S. national politics due to monetary resources and the revolving door policy of hiring former government officials. It is common practice for politicians to request money for lobbying firms for an exchange in better access to officials and to buy favoritism in policies. Historically, K Street hires top ex-politicians from both major parties since party in power can vary between elections and among the legislative and executive branches in government. During most of the George W. Bush administration, the Republican party had majority control of both houses of Congress, in addition to control of the White House. DeLay of the House, Rick Santorum of the Senate, and Grover Norquist took this opportunity to expand the K Street Project by pressuring major lobbying firms to hire only Republicans in any new or open positions.

Now that the corruption is being exposed, the KStreeters among others have guaranteed that primarily Republicans will be snared in the prosecutor's net. There will be a Democrat here or there, but the Republicans have been in power so they will be the pigs slaughtered at the trough.

Read a bit more. You might not get caught up by your "dogmatic ignorance" as often.

[shield772]

Not Everyone's Dropping Abramoff's Money http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/st...010508351.html

While dozens of lawmakers are dumping contributions from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his clients, others including Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid smell no taint and plan to keep the money.