| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Captain Compassion" |
| Date: |
11 Jan 2006 09:53:00 PM |
| Object: |
Abramoff-linked probe focuses on 5 lawmakers |
Abramoff-linked probe focuses on 5 lawmakers
By Jerry Seper and Audrey Hudson
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
January 11, 2006
A Justice Department investigation into influence-peddling on Capitol
Hill is focusing on a "first tier" of lawmakers and staffers, both
Republicans and Democrats, say sources close to the probe that has
netted guilty pleas from lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Law-enforcement authorities and others said the investigation's
opening phase is scrutinizing Sens. Conrad Burns, Montana Republican;
Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat; and Minority Leader Harry
Reid, Nevada Democrat, along with Reps. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona
Republican, and Bob Ney, Ohio Republican.
A source working with the Justice Department on the investigation told
The Washington Times that Abramoff was questioned during several
interviews about the lawmakers and their purported ties to the
lobbyist and his former clients.
The source said prosecutors asked Abramoff whether the lawmakers had
performed "official acts" in exchange for campaign cash or other
favors. Although it is unknown whether any of the five will be charged
in the case, the source said Abramoff was being "prepped" by five
Justice Department attorneys in that event.
Others familiar with the investigation confirmed the names of the
three Republican and two Democratic legislators.
All five lawmakers said that they have not done anything illegal and
that all their dealings with Abramoff and his clients were legitimate.
The sources also said that at least two legislative directors and
other lobbyists are under investigation in the preliminary round of
inquiry. The probe is expected to widen and could ensnare "a minimum"
of 20 members of Congress, they said.
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has not been directly
implicated by Abramoff in the probe, but the Texas Republican's former
deputy chief of staff, Tony Rudy, has emerged as a person of interest
in the preliminary probe, the sources said.
Mr. DeLay's former communications director, Michael Scanlon, also
worked as an Abramoff business partner and pleaded guilty in November
to corruption charges. Scanlon also is cooperating in the government
probe.
Abramoff pleaded guilty in federal court in Washington on Jan. 3 to
conspiracy, tax evasion and fraud in a scheme involving what he
described as the "corruption of public officials," saying he raised
campaign cash, funded trips and gave other items to lawmakers "in
exchange for certain official acts."
Seeking to reduce a 30-year prison sentence to 91/2 years, Abramoff
has agreed with prosecutors to cooperate fully in the government's
influence-peddling investigation. Prosecutors have seized his computer
hard drive and are reviewing 500,000 e-mails.
Jim Manley, Mr. Reid's spokesman, said that no official acts were
performed for Abramoff and that the senator has always opposed the
expansion of off-reservation gambling, a stance favorable to
Abramoff's clients.
"These kinds of wild and baseless rumors smack of desperation and is
simply a desperate attempt by Republicans to drag Democrats into a
scandal they own lock, stock and barrel," Mr. Manley said.
He said Mr. Reid also has asked the Senate Select Committee on Ethics
to review his decisions on Indian gaming matters involving Abramoff.
Mr. Reid has acknowledged receiving contributions from Abramoff's
clients, but has said he does not intend to return the money because
it represented legal donations. The sources said Mr. Reid is thought
to have collected as much as $61,000 in donations from Abramoff
clients, including Indian tribes.
"Senator Reid has done nothing wrong, and he doesn't see any reason
why he would need to return the money," spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said
last week.
Mr. Burns, who chairs a subcommittee with influence over funding for
American Indian programs, has returned or given to charity $150,000 he
received from Abramoff, his partners or his tribal clients. He sent a
letter to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales on Nov. 28 asking for
an investigation in the matter to clear his name, his spokesman, Matt
Mackowiak, said.
"Mr. Burns has a long record of supporting Indian tribe education
programs, and it goes way back before Abramoff was a lobbyist," Mr.
Mackowiak said. "Senator Burns took the lead and was one of the first
members to return all contributions, and as a result, more than 100
members will give back money that is linked to Abramoff.
"He believes he will be cleared of any wrongdoing," he said, adding
that Mr. Burns told the Justice Department that he would cooperate
fully and has directed his staff to do the same.
The Tigua Indian Tribe in El Paso, Texas, said it donated $22,000 to
Mr. Burns in 2002 at Abramoff's request, thinking the Montana
Republican was part of "Abramoff's group." The tribe hired Abramoff to
lobby on its behalf to reopen a casino. FBI agents have interviewed
tribal leaders about the donations, the sources said.
Mr. Burns has said the money had no bearing on any of his
congressional actions.
Barry Piatt, a spokesman for Mr. Dorgan, ranking Democrat on the
Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said neither the senator nor his
campaign office has been contacted by the Justice Department, adding
that the senator never received a direct contribution from Abramoff.
"I don't believe we have been informed of that," Mr. Piatt said of the
investigation. "I have my doubts, the process is that they would have
contacted us and they have not."
Mr. Dorgan returned $67,000 donated to him by Indian tribes tied to
Abramoff. He has said he did nothing wrong but was returning the money
to avoid the appearance of a conflict.
Mr. Hayworth said in a written response that the Justice Department
would be accused of dereliction "if it did not examine everyone who
ever accepted a contribution from Abramoff or any of his tribal
clients, so I'm not surprised." He said he welcomed the chance to
clear up the matter.
Mr. Hayworth said he had performed many official acts benefiting
Indian tribes, but had never performed any act specifically for an
Abramoff client. He said Abramoff's tribal clients had contributed to
both his campaign and his political action committee, "which is not
surprising since as chairman of the Native American Caucus, I have
been in the forefront of issues affecting Indian Country and receive
contributions from tribes across America."
He said he did not expect "this preliminary round of the inquiry to
produce anything that would make any further examination necessary."
T
he Arizona Republican has said he received $100,000 in campaign cash
from Indian tribes, including $2,250 from those affiliated with
Abramoff -- which he will return. He told reporters in Arizona that
the donations he received were being used to unfairly link him with
Abramoff, adding that he did nothing wrong in accepting the $2,250 in
1998 and 1999 from three tribes once represented by Abramoff.
Mr. Ney, who has denied any wrongdoing, has said he gave to the
American Indian College Fund the $6,500 in campaign donations he
received from Abramoff.
"At the time I dealt with Jack Abramoff, I obviously did not know, and
had no way of knowing, the self-serving and fraudulent nature of
Abramoff's activities," Mr. Ney said in the statement.
Identified only as "Representative No. 1" in the Abramoff indictment,
Mr. Ney received a "lavish trip to Scotland to play golf on
world-famous courses" and other benefits in exchange for support on
various issues. The indictment said Abramoff arranged for a $50,000
check to be sent from Texas to pay for the Scotland trip.
The indictment also said Abramoff and Scanlon "sought and received
Representative No. 1's agreement to perform a series of official acts"
that benefited the lobbyists or their clients. In return, the
indictment said, the lobbyists "provided a stream of things of value
to Representative No. 1 and members of his staff."
Abramoff also has pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami to
conspiracy and fraud charges in a separate scheme to purchase 200
casino boats, saying in court he and a partner faked a $23 million
wire transfer in a $147.5 million deal to purchase the boats.
--
"The president and I cannot prevent certain politicians from losing
their memory, or their backbone, but we're not going to sit by and
let them rewrite history." -- ***** Cheney 11/16/2005
"War is God's way of teaching Americans geography" -- Ambrose Bierce
"America is a vast conspiracy to make you happy." -- John Updike
"Long term commitment in relationships is only necessary because it takes
so damn long to raise children. Marriage may well be some kind of trick
to keep the males around beyond sexual satiation." -- Captain Compassion
"Progress is the increasing control of the environment by life.
--Will Durant
Joseph R. Darancette
daranc@NOSPAMverizon.net
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