On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 02:47:09 GMT, Harry Hope <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

From The Associated Press, 11/11/05:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Lobbyist_Cornyn.html

E-mails show link between Cornyn, lobbyist under investigation

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON --

Former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed claimed in a 2001
e-mail to a lobbyist that he choreographed John Cornyn's efforts as
Texas attorney general to shut down an East Texas Indian tribe's
casino.

The lobbyist was Jack Abramoff, who is under federal investigation,
along with his partner Michael Scanlon, on allegations of defrauding
six Indian tribes of about $80 million between 2001 and 2004.

The e-mail, along with about a dozen others, were released last week
as part of the investigation.

In 2001, Abramoff was working as a lobbyist for the Louisiana
Coushatta tribe to prevent rival gaming casinos from siphoning off its
Texas customers.

He paid Reed as a consultant, and Reed lobbied to get the
Alabama-Coushatta and Tigua casinos closed in Texas.

In the Nov. 30, 2001, e-mail, Reed told Abramoff that 50 pastors led
by Ed Young, of Second Baptist Church in Houston, would meet with
Cornyn to urge him to shut down the Alabama-Coushatta tribe's casino
near Livingston, Texas.

He said Young would back up the request in writing.

"We have also choreographed Cornyn's response. The AG will state that
the law is clear, talk about how much he wants to avoid repetition of
El Paso and pledge to take swift action to enforce the law," Reed
wrote.

"He will also personally hand Ed Young a letter that commits him to
take action in Livingston."

Cornyn, now a Republican U.S. senator, had filed a lawsuit in 1999 to
shut down a casino operated by the Tigua tribe in El Paso, saying it
violated the state's limited gambling laws.

In 2002, federal courts shuttered the Tiguas' casino and Cornyn used
that ruling to shut down the Alabama-Coushuttas' casino.

Cornyn, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has denied knowing
Abramoff.

He also has said he was unaware of Reed's work with Abramoff.

He said he did not remember receiving a letter from Young or Reed, or
providing a letter to Young, although he acknowledged meeting with the
minister.

"Their efforts were irrelevant to what I was doing," said Cornyn, who
was elected to the Senate in 2002.

"It's kind of eye-opening to me that apparently people make money
claiming credit for something I decided to do under the law."

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee, led by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
blocked out references to Cornyn in the e-mails it released last week.

But, in previous Reed e-mails released by the committee, Cornyn's name
was not removed.

The previously released e-mails that showed in 2002 Abramoff and
Scanlon secretly funneled millions to Reed to help fund the campaign
to get the Tigua casino shut down.

The lobbyists then persuaded the Tiguas to hire them to reopoen it.

A Reed spokeswoman refused to respond directly to questions about
whether Reed had copies of or had seen Young's letter, or details
about how he "choreographed" a response from Cornyn.

"No one should take credit for state Attorney General John Cornyn's
actions and the faith community's support," Reed's spokeswoman Lisa
Baron said.

"Ralph Reed never has and never will."

She said Reed did not learn the Louisiana Coushattas were Abramoff's
clients until 2002, and he was not aware that the tribe contributed to
"our efforts" until 2004.

But Reed's e-mails suggest Cornyn's work was instrumental to Abramoff
in fending off competition for his client.

Members of the Louisiana Coushatta tribal leadership testified last
week that Abramoff used the threat of the Alabama-Coushatta casino in
Texas to get more lobbying business from the tribe.

Young said he met Cornyn for the first time at the pastors' meeting in
late November 2001 and Cornyn spoke to about 15 to 20 pastors.

He also said he did not remember any exchange of letters occurring at
the meeting as Reed said in the e-mail.

Cornyn "told us the situation. He was filing affidavits. We said we
support you" because of the pastors' concern about gambling, Young
said.

Young dismissed Reed's suggestion that Cornyn needed him for support
in the 2002 Senate race.

He said he stays neutral politically because his church attracts
Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

DeLay, the former House Majority leader, has been charged with money
laundering and conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme related to the
2002 elections.

Investigators are looking into donations and an all-expense paid golf
trip to Scotland that DeLay received after his office helped Abramoff
get a high-level Bush administration meeting for Indian clients.

__________________________________________________________

This thing gets bigger every day.

Harry

On Sat, 12 Nov 2005 02:47:09 GMT, Harry Hope <rivrvu@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:

From The Associated Press, 11/11/05:
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Lobbyist_Cornyn.html

E-mails show link between Cornyn, lobbyist under investigation

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON --

Former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed claimed in a 2001
e-mail to a lobbyist that he choreographed John Cornyn's efforts as
Texas attorney general to shut down an East Texas Indian tribe's
casino.

The lobbyist was Jack Abramoff, who is under federal investigation,
along with his partner Michael Scanlon, on allegations of defrauding
six Indian tribes of about $80 million between 2001 and 2004.

The e-mail, along with about a dozen others, were released last week
as part of the investigation.

In 2001, Abramoff was working as a lobbyist for the Louisiana
Coushatta tribe to prevent rival gaming casinos from siphoning off its
Texas customers.

He paid Reed as a consultant, and Reed lobbied to get the
Alabama-Coushatta and Tigua casinos closed in Texas.

In the Nov. 30, 2001, e-mail, Reed told Abramoff that 50 pastors led
by Ed Young, of Second Baptist Church in Houston, would meet with
Cornyn to urge him to shut down the Alabama-Coushatta tribe's casino
near Livingston, Texas.

He said Young would back up the request in writing.

"We have also choreographed Cornyn's response. The AG will state that
the law is clear, talk about how much he wants to avoid repetition of
El Paso and pledge to take swift action to enforce the law," Reed
wrote.

"He will also personally hand Ed Young a letter that commits him to
take action in Livingston."

Cornyn, now a Republican U.S. senator, had filed a lawsuit in 1999 to
shut down a casino operated by the Tigua tribe in El Paso, saying it
violated the state's limited gambling laws.

In 2002, federal courts shuttered the Tiguas' casino and Cornyn used
that ruling to shut down the Alabama-Coushuttas' casino.

Cornyn, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has denied knowing
Abramoff.

He also has said he was unaware of Reed's work with Abramoff.

He said he did not remember receiving a letter from Young or Reed, or
providing a letter to Young, although he acknowledged meeting with the
minister.

"Their efforts were irrelevant to what I was doing," said Cornyn, who
was elected to the Senate in 2002.

"It's kind of eye-opening to me that apparently people make money
claiming credit for something I decided to do under the law."

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee, led by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,
blocked out references to Cornyn in the e-mails it released last week.

But, in previous Reed e-mails released by the committee, Cornyn's name
was not removed.

The previously released e-mails that showed in 2002 Abramoff and
Scanlon secretly funneled millions to Reed to help fund the campaign
to get the Tigua casino shut down.

The lobbyists then persuaded the Tiguas to hire them to reopoen it.

A Reed spokeswoman refused to respond directly to questions about
whether Reed had copies of or had seen Young's letter, or details
about how he "choreographed" a response from Cornyn.

"No one should take credit for state Attorney General John Cornyn's
actions and the faith community's support," Reed's spokeswoman Lisa
Baron said.

"Ralph Reed never has and never will."

She said Reed did not learn the Louisiana Coushattas were Abramoff's
clients until 2002, and he was not aware that the tribe contributed to
"our efforts" until 2004.

But Reed's e-mails suggest Cornyn's work was instrumental to Abramoff
in fending off competition for his client.

Members of the Louisiana Coushatta tribal leadership testified last
week that Abramoff used the threat of the Alabama-Coushatta casino in
Texas to get more lobbying business from the tribe.

Young said he met Cornyn for the first time at the pastors' meeting in
late November 2001 and Cornyn spoke to about 15 to 20 pastors.

He also said he did not remember any exchange of letters occurring at
the meeting as Reed said in the e-mail.

Cornyn "told us the situation. He was filing affidavits. We said we
support you" because of the pastors' concern about gambling, Young
said.

Young dismissed Reed's suggestion that Cornyn needed him for support
in the 2002 Senate race.

He said he stays neutral politically because his church attracts
Democrats and Republicans, including Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas.

DeLay, the former House Majority leader, has been charged with money
laundering and conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme related to the
2002 elections.

Investigators are looking into donations and an all-expense paid golf
trip to Scotland that DeLay received after his office helped Abramoff
get a high-level Bush administration meeting for Indian clients.

__________________________________________________________

This thing gets bigger every day.

Harry