Politics > Politics-USA > Congressional records link conservative think tank to indicted Republican Abramoff
| Topic: |
Politics > Politics-USA |
| User: |
"Harry Hope" |
| Date: |
05 May 2007 05:48:10 PM |
| Object: |
Congressional records link conservative think tank to indicted Republican Abramoff |
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/17183120.htm
Sat, May. 05, 2007
Congressional records link conservative think tank to Abramoff
By Mark K. Matthews
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
WASHINGTON -
When Rep. Tom Feeney first told Congress about a 2003 golf junket he
took with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Oviedo, Fla., Republican named a
conservative think tank called the National Center for Public Policy
Research as the trip's sponsor.
In the years since - and as recently as January - the think tank's
directors said it played no role in the Scotland visit.
But congressional records show a direct link between the
Washington-based policy group and a foundation identified by Senate
investigators as Abramoff's personal "slush fund" that he used to
evade taxes and lavish luxuries on his friends on Capitol Hill.
Financial statements show that the National Center for Public Policy
Research gave $450,000 to Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation in
2002 and $250,000 in 2003.
The NCPPR was nothing more than a "front organization" for Abramoff,
who was one of its officers until 2004, according to an October
minority report from Democrats on the Senate Finance committee.
"Mr. Abramoff arranged for Members of Congress and others to travel
extensively at the expense of clients, while funneling the money
through NCPPR, which would then be named as sponsor of the trips on
official disclosure forms," reads the report.
Amy Ridenour, president of NCPPR, could not be reached for comment
this week after repeated attempts by the Orlando Sentinel.
She previously told Congress that Abramoff deceived her about the
money transfers.
The FBI has questioned Feeney about the 2003 Scotland trip, and the
congressman has said he's been told he is not a target of the
investigation.
Feeney also has told the Sentinel that he was "duped and lied to"
about who paid for the trip.
Abramoff pleaded guilty last year to corruption and fraud charges
related to his representation of various Indian tribes.
Those tribes, investigators say, provided Abramoff with the money he
would later use to gain influence with members of Congress.
One way he did that, investigators said, was to convince tribal
leaders and others to provide money to groups such as the National
Center for Public Policy Research.
In 2005, Ridenour told Congress that Greenberg Traurig - Abramoff's
former law firm - sent her center $1.5 million in 2003.
Abramoff then gave Ridenour specific instructions to route the money
to two organizations he ran, including $250,000 to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
Ridenour said she thought it would be used to help educate the public
about benefits American Indian tribes could derive from running
casinos.
Instead, Abramoff used the money to help finance other projects,
including $150,000 to arrange a Scotland "fund-raiser" in 2003 - which
is the trip that Feeney and seven others took.
Feeney has said he filed his travel-disclosure forms in good faith and
was misled about the true sponsor of the trip.
Feeney's trip mirrors another overseas golfing excursion taken by
former Rep. Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican who pleaded guilty last year
to corruption charges tied to Abramoff.
That year, an Indian tribe from Mississippi gave $1 million to the
National Center for Public Policy Research.
Abramoff told Ridenour to send $450,000 of that money to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
For Abramoff, the center provided an easy way to shift funds among his
interests.
According to a 2002 e-mail sent to a colleague at Greenberg Traurig,
Abramoff said the research center "can direct money at our discretion,
anywhere if you know what I mean."
Later, when Ridenour asked Abramoff for a better description as to
where the money was going, she wrote:
"why don't you tell me very briefly what they really are doing, and
I'll write back with a great-sounding phrase for each. I'll promise
not to tell anyone about projects," according to Senate records.
The money transfers follow an Abramoff pattern of routing tribal
donations through the Capital Athletic Foundation.
Senate investigators estimate the tribes gave $3.66 million either
directly or indirectly to the foundation.
The ties between Abramoff and Ridenour go back years - the two first
met as College Republicans, according to the 2006 Senate Democrat
report.
In 1997, Abramoff joined the center's board of directors, according to
2005 testimony from Ridenour.
At the time, she said she thought he was "dedicated free-market
conservative" and a "successful lobbyist."
---
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
The conservative think tank identifies itself as a communications and
research foundation that supports a strong national defense and
dedicates itself to free market solutions. But Senate investigators
identify the group as a "front organization" for disgraced lobbyist
Jack Abramoff who, they say, took money from the NCPPR and funneled it
through his private Capital Athletic Foundation to lavish favors, such
as junkets to Scotland, on members of Congress. NCPPR gave $700,000 to
Abramoff's foundation in 2002 and 2003.
CAPITAL ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Jack Abramoff's non-profit group supposedly existed to help young
people, but investigators say it was little more than his personal
"slush fund" that he used to squeeze favors from lawmakers, whom he
treated to overseas trips and other gifts.
_____________________________________________________
And on and on and on
Harry
.
|
|
| User: "Wayne H. Wilhelm" |
|
| Title: Re: Congressional records link conservative think tank to indicted Republican Abramoff |
05 May 2007 06:16:43 PM |
|
|
This sounds similar to the connection between Hillary Rodham Clinton, her
husband and Dubai.
"Harry Hope" <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:4d2q335afuq5318tgdm882vfic661oe34k@4ax.com...
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/17183120.htm
Sat, May. 05, 2007
Congressional records link conservative think tank to Abramoff
By Mark K. Matthews
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
WASHINGTON -
When Rep. Tom Feeney first told Congress about a 2003 golf junket he
took with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Oviedo, Fla., Republican named a
conservative think tank called the National Center for Public Policy
Research as the trip's sponsor.
In the years since - and as recently as January - the think tank's
directors said it played no role in the Scotland visit.
But congressional records show a direct link between the
Washington-based policy group and a foundation identified by Senate
investigators as Abramoff's personal "slush fund" that he used to
evade taxes and lavish luxuries on his friends on Capitol Hill.
Financial statements show that the National Center for Public Policy
Research gave $450,000 to Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation in
2002 and $250,000 in 2003.
The NCPPR was nothing more than a "front organization" for Abramoff,
who was one of its officers until 2004, according to an October
minority report from Democrats on the Senate Finance committee.
"Mr. Abramoff arranged for Members of Congress and others to travel
extensively at the expense of clients, while funneling the money
through NCPPR, which would then be named as sponsor of the trips on
official disclosure forms," reads the report.
Amy Ridenour, president of NCPPR, could not be reached for comment
this week after repeated attempts by the Orlando Sentinel.
She previously told Congress that Abramoff deceived her about the
money transfers.
The FBI has questioned Feeney about the 2003 Scotland trip, and the
congressman has said he's been told he is not a target of the
investigation.
Feeney also has told the Sentinel that he was "duped and lied to"
about who paid for the trip.
Abramoff pleaded guilty last year to corruption and fraud charges
related to his representation of various Indian tribes.
Those tribes, investigators say, provided Abramoff with the money he
would later use to gain influence with members of Congress.
One way he did that, investigators said, was to convince tribal
leaders and others to provide money to groups such as the National
Center for Public Policy Research.
In 2005, Ridenour told Congress that Greenberg Traurig - Abramoff's
former law firm - sent her center $1.5 million in 2003.
Abramoff then gave Ridenour specific instructions to route the money
to two organizations he ran, including $250,000 to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
Ridenour said she thought it would be used to help educate the public
about benefits American Indian tribes could derive from running
casinos.
Instead, Abramoff used the money to help finance other projects,
including $150,000 to arrange a Scotland "fund-raiser" in 2003 - which
is the trip that Feeney and seven others took.
Feeney has said he filed his travel-disclosure forms in good faith and
was misled about the true sponsor of the trip.
Feeney's trip mirrors another overseas golfing excursion taken by
former Rep. Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican who pleaded guilty last year
to corruption charges tied to Abramoff.
That year, an Indian tribe from Mississippi gave $1 million to the
National Center for Public Policy Research.
Abramoff told Ridenour to send $450,000 of that money to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
For Abramoff, the center provided an easy way to shift funds among his
interests.
According to a 2002 e-mail sent to a colleague at Greenberg Traurig,
Abramoff said the research center "can direct money at our discretion,
anywhere if you know what I mean."
Later, when Ridenour asked Abramoff for a better description as to
where the money was going, she wrote:
"why don't you tell me very briefly what they really are doing, and
I'll write back with a great-sounding phrase for each. I'll promise
not to tell anyone about projects," according to Senate records.
The money transfers follow an Abramoff pattern of routing tribal
donations through the Capital Athletic Foundation.
Senate investigators estimate the tribes gave $3.66 million either
directly or indirectly to the foundation.
The ties between Abramoff and Ridenour go back years - the two first
met as College Republicans, according to the 2006 Senate Democrat
report.
In 1997, Abramoff joined the center's board of directors, according to
2005 testimony from Ridenour.
At the time, she said she thought he was "dedicated free-market
conservative" and a "successful lobbyist."
---
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
The conservative think tank identifies itself as a communications and
research foundation that supports a strong national defense and
dedicates itself to free market solutions. But Senate investigators
identify the group as a "front organization" for disgraced lobbyist
Jack Abramoff who, they say, took money from the NCPPR and funneled it
through his private Capital Athletic Foundation to lavish favors, such
as junkets to Scotland, on members of Congress. NCPPR gave $700,000 to
Abramoff's foundation in 2002 and 2003.
CAPITAL ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Jack Abramoff's non-profit group supposedly existed to help young
people, but investigators say it was little more than his personal
"slush fund" that he used to squeeze favors from lawmakers, whom he
treated to overseas trips and other gifts.
_____________________________________________________
And on and on and on
Harry
.
|
|
|
| User: "Kevin Cunningham" |
|
| Title: Re: Congressional records link conservative think tank to indicted Republican Abramoff |
06 May 2007 02:37:39 PM |
|
|
"Wayne H. Wilhelm" <wwilhelm@neonospam.rr.com> wrote in message
news:463d105c$0$1387$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
This sounds similar to the connection between Hillary Rodham Clinton, her
husband and Dubai.
Poor Waynster, its a huge problem to be a defender of Bush, now the only
thing he can come up with is "The Clintons did it too!". In the past repugs
had ideas like the Balance Budget Amendment but now they've given up on
ideas and their into "So's your old man!" types of argument. Its sad to
see a party that used to be powerfull decend into the kind of failure
reminiscent of the Libertarians.
Buck up Wayne, your turn will come in another 100 to 150 years.
"Harry Hope" <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:4d2q335afuq5318tgdm882vfic661oe34k@4ax.com...
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/17183120.htm
Sat, May. 05, 2007
Congressional records link conservative think tank to Abramoff
By Mark K. Matthews
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
WASHINGTON -
When Rep. Tom Feeney first told Congress about a 2003 golf junket he
took with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Oviedo, Fla., Republican named a
conservative think tank called the National Center for Public Policy
Research as the trip's sponsor.
In the years since - and as recently as January - the think tank's
directors said it played no role in the Scotland visit.
But congressional records show a direct link between the
Washington-based policy group and a foundation identified by Senate
investigators as Abramoff's personal "slush fund" that he used to
evade taxes and lavish luxuries on his friends on Capitol Hill.
Financial statements show that the National Center for Public Policy
Research gave $450,000 to Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation in
2002 and $250,000 in 2003.
The NCPPR was nothing more than a "front organization" for Abramoff,
who was one of its officers until 2004, according to an October
minority report from Democrats on the Senate Finance committee.
"Mr. Abramoff arranged for Members of Congress and others to travel
extensively at the expense of clients, while funneling the money
through NCPPR, which would then be named as sponsor of the trips on
official disclosure forms," reads the report.
Amy Ridenour, president of NCPPR, could not be reached for comment
this week after repeated attempts by the Orlando Sentinel.
She previously told Congress that Abramoff deceived her about the
money transfers.
The FBI has questioned Feeney about the 2003 Scotland trip, and the
congressman has said he's been told he is not a target of the
investigation.
Feeney also has told the Sentinel that he was "duped and lied to"
about who paid for the trip.
Abramoff pleaded guilty last year to corruption and fraud charges
related to his representation of various Indian tribes.
Those tribes, investigators say, provided Abramoff with the money he
would later use to gain influence with members of Congress.
One way he did that, investigators said, was to convince tribal
leaders and others to provide money to groups such as the National
Center for Public Policy Research.
In 2005, Ridenour told Congress that Greenberg Traurig - Abramoff's
former law firm - sent her center $1.5 million in 2003.
Abramoff then gave Ridenour specific instructions to route the money
to two organizations he ran, including $250,000 to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
Ridenour said she thought it would be used to help educate the public
about benefits American Indian tribes could derive from running
casinos.
Instead, Abramoff used the money to help finance other projects,
including $150,000 to arrange a Scotland "fund-raiser" in 2003 - which
is the trip that Feeney and seven others took.
Feeney has said he filed his travel-disclosure forms in good faith and
was misled about the true sponsor of the trip.
Feeney's trip mirrors another overseas golfing excursion taken by
former Rep. Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican who pleaded guilty last year
to corruption charges tied to Abramoff.
That year, an Indian tribe from Mississippi gave $1 million to the
National Center for Public Policy Research.
Abramoff told Ridenour to send $450,000 of that money to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
For Abramoff, the center provided an easy way to shift funds among his
interests.
According to a 2002 e-mail sent to a colleague at Greenberg Traurig,
Abramoff said the research center "can direct money at our discretion,
anywhere if you know what I mean."
Later, when Ridenour asked Abramoff for a better description as to
where the money was going, she wrote:
"why don't you tell me very briefly what they really are doing, and
I'll write back with a great-sounding phrase for each. I'll promise
not to tell anyone about projects," according to Senate records.
The money transfers follow an Abramoff pattern of routing tribal
donations through the Capital Athletic Foundation.
Senate investigators estimate the tribes gave $3.66 million either
directly or indirectly to the foundation.
The ties between Abramoff and Ridenour go back years - the two first
met as College Republicans, according to the 2006 Senate Democrat
report.
In 1997, Abramoff joined the center's board of directors, according to
2005 testimony from Ridenour.
At the time, she said she thought he was "dedicated free-market
conservative" and a "successful lobbyist."
---
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
The conservative think tank identifies itself as a communications and
research foundation that supports a strong national defense and
dedicates itself to free market solutions. But Senate investigators
identify the group as a "front organization" for disgraced lobbyist
Jack Abramoff who, they say, took money from the NCPPR and funneled it
through his private Capital Athletic Foundation to lavish favors, such
as junkets to Scotland, on members of Congress. NCPPR gave $700,000 to
Abramoff's foundation in 2002 and 2003.
CAPITAL ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Jack Abramoff's non-profit group supposedly existed to help young
people, but investigators say it was little more than his personal
"slush fund" that he used to squeeze favors from lawmakers, whom he
treated to overseas trips and other gifts.
_____________________________________________________
And on and on and on
Harry
.
|
|
|
| User: "Wayne H. Wilhelm" |
|
| Title: Re: Congressional records link conservative think tank to indicted Republican Abramoff |
07 May 2007 03:13:20 AM |
|
|
"Kevin Cunningham" <smskjv@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:78q%h.4276$296.2768@newsread4.news.pas.earthlink.net...
"Wayne H. Wilhelm" <wwilhelm@neonospam.rr.com> wrote in message
news:463d105c$0$1387$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
This sounds similar to the connection between Hillary Rodham Clinton, her
husband and Dubai.
Poor Waynster, its a huge problem to be a defender of Bush, now the only
thing he can come up with is "The Clintons did it too!". In the past
repugs had ideas like the Balance Budget Amendment but now they've given
up on ideas and their into "So's your old man!" types of argument. Its
sad to see a party that used to be powerfull decend into the kind of
failure reminiscent of the Libertarians.
Buck up Wayne, your turn will come in another 100 to 150 years.
Life, especially in the political arena, is like a gigantic puzzle. A
normal puzzle might consist of 500 pieces. A more challenging puzzle might
have 1000 pieces or more. The political arena puzzle contains over 100
thousand pieces. I'm striving to figure out where all of those pieces go.
Easier said than done. Thousands of those pieces are discolored with bias.
At the moment, I don't defend minorities because they're already overly
defended. Eventually, I'll reach a balance between the left and the right.
When I do, I'll then promote the pieces of the puzzle which involve
accountability of the individual, the variablility of values from one person
to another, and the role government must play in protecting society as a
whole while striving to protect a persons right to be unique.
Oddly, I was disappointed today while reviewing some documents regarding who
contested accounting reforms during the 1990's. Turns out Joe Lieberman was
at the lead of the protest against reform. It was that reform which if
implemented could have prevented the 2001 recession. I had come to admire
Lieberman for his centrist role yet now find I must give him a very serious
black mark for promoting corporate protection in the name of job creation.
It was his interference which formed the basis for the eventual collapse of
corporations such as Enron, the collapse of the stock market, and the
recession which ensued.
"Harry Hope" <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:4d2q335afuq5318tgdm882vfic661oe34k@4ax.com...
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/17183120.htm
Sat, May. 05, 2007
Congressional records link conservative think tank to Abramoff
By Mark K. Matthews
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
WASHINGTON -
When Rep. Tom Feeney first told Congress about a 2003 golf junket he
took with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Oviedo, Fla., Republican named a
conservative think tank called the National Center for Public Policy
Research as the trip's sponsor.
In the years since - and as recently as January - the think tank's
directors said it played no role in the Scotland visit.
But congressional records show a direct link between the
Washington-based policy group and a foundation identified by Senate
investigators as Abramoff's personal "slush fund" that he used to
evade taxes and lavish luxuries on his friends on Capitol Hill.
Financial statements show that the National Center for Public Policy
Research gave $450,000 to Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation in
2002 and $250,000 in 2003.
The NCPPR was nothing more than a "front organization" for Abramoff,
who was one of its officers until 2004, according to an October
minority report from Democrats on the Senate Finance committee.
"Mr. Abramoff arranged for Members of Congress and others to travel
extensively at the expense of clients, while funneling the money
through NCPPR, which would then be named as sponsor of the trips on
official disclosure forms," reads the report.
Amy Ridenour, president of NCPPR, could not be reached for comment
this week after repeated attempts by the Orlando Sentinel.
She previously told Congress that Abramoff deceived her about the
money transfers.
The FBI has questioned Feeney about the 2003 Scotland trip, and the
congressman has said he's been told he is not a target of the
investigation.
Feeney also has told the Sentinel that he was "duped and lied to"
about who paid for the trip.
Abramoff pleaded guilty last year to corruption and fraud charges
related to his representation of various Indian tribes.
Those tribes, investigators say, provided Abramoff with the money he
would later use to gain influence with members of Congress.
One way he did that, investigators said, was to convince tribal
leaders and others to provide money to groups such as the National
Center for Public Policy Research.
In 2005, Ridenour told Congress that Greenberg Traurig - Abramoff's
former law firm - sent her center $1.5 million in 2003.
Abramoff then gave Ridenour specific instructions to route the money
to two organizations he ran, including $250,000 to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
Ridenour said she thought it would be used to help educate the public
about benefits American Indian tribes could derive from running
casinos.
Instead, Abramoff used the money to help finance other projects,
including $150,000 to arrange a Scotland "fund-raiser" in 2003 - which
is the trip that Feeney and seven others took.
Feeney has said he filed his travel-disclosure forms in good faith and
was misled about the true sponsor of the trip.
Feeney's trip mirrors another overseas golfing excursion taken by
former Rep. Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican who pleaded guilty last year
to corruption charges tied to Abramoff.
That year, an Indian tribe from Mississippi gave $1 million to the
National Center for Public Policy Research.
Abramoff told Ridenour to send $450,000 of that money to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
For Abramoff, the center provided an easy way to shift funds among his
interests.
According to a 2002 e-mail sent to a colleague at Greenberg Traurig,
Abramoff said the research center "can direct money at our discretion,
anywhere if you know what I mean."
Later, when Ridenour asked Abramoff for a better description as to
where the money was going, she wrote:
"why don't you tell me very briefly what they really are doing, and
I'll write back with a great-sounding phrase for each. I'll promise
not to tell anyone about projects," according to Senate records.
The money transfers follow an Abramoff pattern of routing tribal
donations through the Capital Athletic Foundation.
Senate investigators estimate the tribes gave $3.66 million either
directly or indirectly to the foundation.
The ties between Abramoff and Ridenour go back years - the two first
met as College Republicans, according to the 2006 Senate Democrat
report.
In 1997, Abramoff joined the center's board of directors, according to
2005 testimony from Ridenour.
At the time, she said she thought he was "dedicated free-market
conservative" and a "successful lobbyist."
---
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
The conservative think tank identifies itself as a communications and
research foundation that supports a strong national defense and
dedicates itself to free market solutions. But Senate investigators
identify the group as a "front organization" for disgraced lobbyist
Jack Abramoff who, they say, took money from the NCPPR and funneled it
through his private Capital Athletic Foundation to lavish favors, such
as junkets to Scotland, on members of Congress. NCPPR gave $700,000 to
Abramoff's foundation in 2002 and 2003.
CAPITAL ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Jack Abramoff's non-profit group supposedly existed to help young
people, but investigators say it was little more than his personal
"slush fund" that he used to squeeze favors from lawmakers, whom he
treated to overseas trips and other gifts.
_____________________________________________________
And on and on and on
Harry
.
|
|
|
|
|
| User: "Roger" |
|
| Title: Re: Congressional records link conservative think tank to indicted Republican Abramoff |
06 May 2007 07:44:03 AM |
|
|
"Wayne H. Wilhelm" <wwilhelm@neonospam.rr.com> wrote in message
news:463d105c$0$1387$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
This sounds similar to the connection between Hillary Rodham Clinton, her
husband and Dubai.
And the one between Obama, his wife, and the cookie monster.
"Harry Hope" <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:4d2q335afuq5318tgdm882vfic661oe34k@4ax.com...
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/editorial/17183120.htm
Sat, May. 05, 2007
Congressional records link conservative think tank to Abramoff
By Mark K. Matthews
The Orlando Sentinel
(MCT)
WASHINGTON -
When Rep. Tom Feeney first told Congress about a 2003 golf junket he
took with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Oviedo, Fla., Republican named a
conservative think tank called the National Center for Public Policy
Research as the trip's sponsor.
In the years since - and as recently as January - the think tank's
directors said it played no role in the Scotland visit.
But congressional records show a direct link between the
Washington-based policy group and a foundation identified by Senate
investigators as Abramoff's personal "slush fund" that he used to
evade taxes and lavish luxuries on his friends on Capitol Hill.
Financial statements show that the National Center for Public Policy
Research gave $450,000 to Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation in
2002 and $250,000 in 2003.
The NCPPR was nothing more than a "front organization" for Abramoff,
who was one of its officers until 2004, according to an October
minority report from Democrats on the Senate Finance committee.
"Mr. Abramoff arranged for Members of Congress and others to travel
extensively at the expense of clients, while funneling the money
through NCPPR, which would then be named as sponsor of the trips on
official disclosure forms," reads the report.
Amy Ridenour, president of NCPPR, could not be reached for comment
this week after repeated attempts by the Orlando Sentinel.
She previously told Congress that Abramoff deceived her about the
money transfers.
The FBI has questioned Feeney about the 2003 Scotland trip, and the
congressman has said he's been told he is not a target of the
investigation.
Feeney also has told the Sentinel that he was "duped and lied to"
about who paid for the trip.
Abramoff pleaded guilty last year to corruption and fraud charges
related to his representation of various Indian tribes.
Those tribes, investigators say, provided Abramoff with the money he
would later use to gain influence with members of Congress.
One way he did that, investigators said, was to convince tribal
leaders and others to provide money to groups such as the National
Center for Public Policy Research.
In 2005, Ridenour told Congress that Greenberg Traurig - Abramoff's
former law firm - sent her center $1.5 million in 2003.
Abramoff then gave Ridenour specific instructions to route the money
to two organizations he ran, including $250,000 to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
Ridenour said she thought it would be used to help educate the public
about benefits American Indian tribes could derive from running
casinos.
Instead, Abramoff used the money to help finance other projects,
including $150,000 to arrange a Scotland "fund-raiser" in 2003 - which
is the trip that Feeney and seven others took.
Feeney has said he filed his travel-disclosure forms in good faith and
was misled about the true sponsor of the trip.
Feeney's trip mirrors another overseas golfing excursion taken by
former Rep. Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican who pleaded guilty last year
to corruption charges tied to Abramoff.
That year, an Indian tribe from Mississippi gave $1 million to the
National Center for Public Policy Research.
Abramoff told Ridenour to send $450,000 of that money to the Capital
Athletic Foundation.
For Abramoff, the center provided an easy way to shift funds among his
interests.
According to a 2002 e-mail sent to a colleague at Greenberg Traurig,
Abramoff said the research center "can direct money at our discretion,
anywhere if you know what I mean."
Later, when Ridenour asked Abramoff for a better description as to
where the money was going, she wrote:
"why don't you tell me very briefly what they really are doing, and
I'll write back with a great-sounding phrase for each. I'll promise
not to tell anyone about projects," according to Senate records.
The money transfers follow an Abramoff pattern of routing tribal
donations through the Capital Athletic Foundation.
Senate investigators estimate the tribes gave $3.66 million either
directly or indirectly to the foundation.
The ties between Abramoff and Ridenour go back years - the two first
met as College Republicans, according to the 2006 Senate Democrat
report.
In 1997, Abramoff joined the center's board of directors, according to
2005 testimony from Ridenour.
At the time, she said she thought he was "dedicated free-market
conservative" and a "successful lobbyist."
---
NATIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH
The conservative think tank identifies itself as a communications and
research foundation that supports a strong national defense and
dedicates itself to free market solutions. But Senate investigators
identify the group as a "front organization" for disgraced lobbyist
Jack Abramoff who, they say, took money from the NCPPR and funneled it
through his private Capital Athletic Foundation to lavish favors, such
as junkets to Scotland, on members of Congress. NCPPR gave $700,000 to
Abramoff's foundation in 2002 and 2003.
CAPITAL ATHLETIC FOUNDATION
Jack Abramoff's non-profit group supposedly existed to help young
people, but investigators say it was little more than his personal
"slush fund" that he used to squeeze favors from lawmakers, whom he
treated to overseas trips and other gifts.
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And on and on and on
Harry
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