From The Washington Post, 3/13/05:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30274-2005Mar12.html
Casino Bid Prompted High-Stakes Lobbying
Probe Scrutinizes Efforts Against Tribe
By Susan Schmidt
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 13, 2005; Page A01
When a ragtag band of Louisiana Indians won their governor's support
for a casino three years ago, they never could have fathomed the
powerful cast of characters who would collaborate to flatten them.
Jack Abramoff, one of Washington's most prominent Republican
lobbyists, tapped into the gambling riches of a rival tribe to
orchestrate a far-reaching campaign against the Jena Band of Choctaws
-- calling on senior U.S. senators and congressmen, the deputy
secretary of the interior and evangelical leaders James Dobson and
Ralph Reed.
The story of what Abramoff did for the Louisiana Coushatta tribe
provides the most complete picture yet of the role of the lobbyist at
the center of a widening federal corruption investigation in
Washington.
It was reconstructed through interviews with tribal leaders,
government officials and former business associates, as well as
through Interior Department and other documents and e-mails obtained
by The Washington Post.
Abramoff arranged for Dobson and Reed to pressure federal officials to
reject the Jenas' bid on anti-gambling grounds.
He and his partners drafted anti-Jena letters that were then signed by
congressional leaders, some of whom have received thousands of dollars
in donations from tribes represented by Abramoff.
One ally inserted language opposing the casino into a bill late in the
legislative process.
And in an attempt to influence the Interior Department -- which has
the final say on a tribe's gambling ambitions -- Abramoff directed his
tribal clients to give at least $225,000 to the Council of Republicans
for Environmental Advocacy, a conservative group that was founded by
Gale A. Norton before President Bush chose her to be his interior
secretary.
Federal officials are investigating the nature of the relationship
between the group's president, Italia Federici, and Norton's
then-deputy, J. Steven Griles.
The Jenas lost their first round.
They came back to win approval for a second casino plan.
Meantime, the spoils of the lobbying war have been bountiful.
Tribal money bolstered the campaign coffers of many members of
Congress.
Dobson had the opportunity to flex grass-roots muscle that he would
later use to mobilize evangelicals for Bush's reelection.
Reed, former executive director of the Christian Coalition, quietly
received as much as $4 million to whip up public sentiment against
expansion of gambling in Louisiana and Texas.
Reed's efforts, in turn, boosted support for a congressman from
Louisiana who was elected last year to the U.S. Senate.
Abramoff profited, as well.
He and Michael Scanlon, the public affairs executive he recommended to
the tribe, were paid $32 million over three years by the Coushattas.
A Justice Department task force is examining the Jena episode as part
of its investigation into the $82 million Abramoff and Scanlon were
paid by tribes.
Among the areas under scrutiny, according to sources with knowledge of
the probe, are Abramoff's contacts with the Interior Department and
with members of Congress;
the payments to the Republican environmental group;
the Griles-Federici relationship;
and Griles's possible attempt to intervene in the casino decision.
__________________________________________________________
Another day another Republican scandal.
For the complete story go to;
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30274-2005Mar12.html
Harry
The Players
Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton ultimately ruled in favor of the
Jenas Band of Choctaws' casino application.
J. Steven Griles, Norton's deputy at Interior, allegedly mounted a
late but unsuccessful challenge to the Jenas' plan.
Jack Abramoff, lobbying for a competing Indian tribe, mobilized
anti-Jenas efforts outside and inside Washington.
David Vitter, then a congressman from Louisiana, urged Norton in
February 2002 to turn down the Jenas' application.
Michael Scanlon and Abramoff were paid $32 million by the Louisiana
Coushatta tribe, which operated a casino in the state.
Ralph Reed was paid up to $4 million by Abramoff and Scanlon to
organize anti- gambling campaigns in Texas and Louisiana.
Opponents of the Jenas' bid invoked the name of evangelical leader
James Dobson in order to pressure federal officials.
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Scientology murder: http://PerkinsTragedy.org
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