From Bloomberg, 11/18/05:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=aq8X0aVZIW5I&refer=top_world_news
Scanlon, Abramoff Partner, Charged With Conspiracy
(Bloomberg) --
Michael Scanlon, a former associate of indicted Washington lobbyist
Jack Abramoff, was charged by the Justice Department with conspiracy
to corrupt a U.S. lawmaker and defraud Scanlon's Indian-tribe clients.
Scanlon, a former aide to U.S. Representative Tom DeLay, will propose
a plea agreement at a hearing scheduled for Nov. 21, said his lawyer,
Stephen Braga.
Scanlon is accused of conspiring with ``Lobbyist A'' -- identified as
Abramoff by a person close to the investigation -- to provide the
lawmaker with a ``lavish trip to Scotland to play golf on world-famous
courses,'' among other items.
The lawmaker, identified only as ``Representative #1,'' agreed to
perform ``official acts,'' such as supporting legislation and placing
statements in the Congressional Record and helping an Abramoff client
install a cellular network in Congress, according to the charge.
Representative Robert Ney, an Ohio Republican, took a trip to Scotland
in 2002 that was sponsored by Abramoff. Ney, as chairman of the House
Administration Committee, was responsible for deciding on the
installation of the phone network.
Brian Walsh, Ney's spokesman, wasn't immediately available to comment.
The Justice Department filed what is known as a ``criminal
information'' in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
yesterday. Generally, such filings mean that a plea agreement is
forthcoming. The document was released today.
Bryan Sierra, a spokesman for the Justice Department, declined to say
what the Nov. 21 hearing is about.
`Your Move'
``Flight is not a risk here,'' said Stephen Gillers, a law professor
at New York University, referring to Scanlon.
``So I assume Justice is saying: `We could have indicted you, but
here's your chance to plead and cooperate. The more you cooperate, the
better the plea and the less the prison time, if any. Your move.''
Ney, as chairman of the House Administration Committee, awarded a
contract in 2002 to Foxcom Wireless, now Vienna, Virginia-based
MobileAccess Networks, to install cell-phone transmission equipment at
the Capitol.
Foxcom paid Abramoff's law firm, Greenberg Traurig LLP, $280,000 in
2003 and 2004. Foxcom's lobbyists included former Ney chief of staff
Neil Volz
The filing also charges that Scanlon defrauded tribal clients in
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Michigan, by hiding from the tribes
the fact that part of their fees to Scanlon's public relations
company, Capital Campaign Strategies LLC, was being kicked back to
Abramoff.
Andrew Blum, a spokesman for Abramoff, declined to comment.
The office of Abramoff's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, referred calls to Blum.
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Movin' right along.
Harry
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