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ShnickyShnack · 2005-11-25 1:34 pm

Report: investigation into "uber-lobbyist" Jack Abramoff is much larger than previously thought

Prosecutors in the department's public integrity and fraud divisions are looking into Abramoff's dealings with four Republicans -- former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio, Rep. John Doolittle (news, bio, voting record) of California and Sen. Conrad Burns (news, bio, voting record) of Montana, the paper said, citing several people close to the investigation.

Abramoff is under investigation over his lobbying efforts for Indian tribes with casinos. He has also pleaded not guilty to federal charges in Florida that he defrauded lenders in a casino cruise line deal.

The prosecutors are also investigating at least 17 current and former congressional aides, about half of whom later took lobbying jobs with Abramoff, as well as an official from the Interior Department and another from the government's procurement office, the Journal said.

The newspaper said investigators were looking into whether Abramoff and his partners made illegal payoffs to the lawmakers and aides in the form of campaign contributions, sports tickets, meals, travel and job offers, in exchange for helping their clients.

DeLay and Ney have already retained criminal defense lawyers.

Spokespeople for the two lawmakers told the Journal that they have both hired lawyers and have not been contacted by the Justice Department.

It ain't Fitzmas, since it doesn't seem to affect the White House to a massive degree ... but it's more ugliness the Repubs don't need coming in to the November elex.

It must really suck to be so powerless, under the jackboots of a brutal politically-inspired campaign of hate!

Tetrachloride · 2005-11-25 2:28 pm

Ney has already retained a defense lawyer. How telling. And a Senator too.

Pray for the sinners. Now and at the hour of their incarceration. Amen angel

hal9k · 2005-11-25 2:52 pm

There'll be blood on the tracks.

A blood red october leading into blue bayoo novermber to remember articles.

Last edited by hal9k (2005-11-25 2:53 pm)

Tetrachloride · 2005-11-25 9:51 pm

Wall Street Journal via http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Four_cong … _1125.html

The Justice Department's probe is far broader than previously thought. Those involved in Mr. Abramoff's case say that the Justice Department investigation could take years to complete.

Farmerkev · 2005-11-25 10:06 pm

I thought lobbyists bought whoever they could on both sides of the aisle?

resedit · 2005-11-25 10:12 pm

Politicians should just stay away from Gambling - Indian or otherwise.
Not saying that people shouldn't be able to gamble - but gambling involves greed, and that's a magnet for corruption.

As such - it would be a hell of a lot better for politicians to just hang up the phone when gambling interests call.

ShnickyShnack · 2005-11-25 10:27 pm

Farmerkev wrote:
I thought lobbyists bought whoever they could on both sides of the aisle?

Sure, but the lobbyists tend to lean towards whichever party's in power. And the Repubs have held Congress for over ten years.

jerwin · 2005-11-25 10:34 pm

I wonder how the "K St Project" fits into this whole corruption paradigm...

Metacell · 2005-11-26 4:29 am

ShnickyShnack wrote:
It must really suck to be so powerless, under the jackboots of a brutal politically-inspired campaign of hate!

It sucks. It really sucks. Kind of makes you lose faith in humanity. Thank God for you guys.

Tetrachloride · 2005-11-26 4:47 am

The 35 to 40 investigators and prosecutors on the Abramoff case eek

Last edited by Tetrachloride (2005-11-26 4:48 am)

hal9k · 2005-11-26 5:54 am

Tetrachloride wrote:
The 35 to 40 investigators and prosecutors on the Abramoff case

http://homepage.mac.com/oatmeal/MAF/maxes/ranger.gif http://homepage.mac.com/oatmeal/MAF/maxes/ranger.gif http://homepage.mac.com/oatmeal/MAF/maxes/ranger.gif

from that link:
"An attorney for DeLay, whose wife worked for a lobbying firm that received client referrals from Abramoff, said there was no connection between her work and congressional business. A spokesman for Doolittle, whose wife received payments from Abramoff's lobbying firm, also said there was no connection with her husband's position. Burns's office has said his actions were consistent with his support for improving conditions for Indian tribes."

The article mentions other 'Stepford' types. It appears no wives worked for the CIA (at least in the timeline being investigated.)

The way this is described, these investigators will have no problem. It'll be like shooting 'fish-in-a-barrel' as opposed to a 'fishing expedition'.

K Street Project indeed.

jerwin · 2005-11-26 10:09 am

From the K St Project

K Street Project is non-partisan research of political affiliation, employment background, and political donations of members in Washington DC's premier lobbying firms, trade associations, and industries.

Aside from that passage's unique linguistic embellishments, which lead me to believe that the K St Project has no qualms about outsourcing its editorial requirements out to Vietnam, I would quibble with the description of the project as "non-partisan".

However, from what I can gather from Garrison Keilor's impassioned advocacy of POEM (The Professional Organization of English Majors), the study of the linguistic arts is still an haven for The Vanishing Liberal. Perhaps they had little choice.

ShnickyShnack · 2005-11-26 10:14 am

I think the Repubs will inevitably be hurt by this, even if there aren't any charges. The public getting a look at the sleazy world of lobbying isn't a good thing.

I mean, the wives of public officials working as lobbyists? That's just nasty.

Farmerkev · 2005-11-26 10:27 am

ShnickyShnack wrote:
I think the Repubs will inevitably be hurt by this, even if there aren't any charges. The public getting a look at the sleazy world of lobbying isn't a good thing.

I mean, the wives of public officials working as lobbyists? That's just nasty.

Where were you when Daschle was in power?

ShnickyShnack · 2005-11-26 10:57 am

Farmerkev wrote:
ShnickyShnack wrote:
I think the Repubs will inevitably be hurt by this, even if there aren't any charges. The public getting a look at the sleazy world of lobbying isn't a good thing.

I mean, the wives of public officials working as lobbyists? That's just nasty.
Where were you when Daschle was in power?

Daschle?

Jeesh, you may as well complain about Sam Rayburn.

Farmerkev · 2005-11-26 11:08 am

ShnickyShnack wrote:
Farmerkev wrote:
ShnickyShnack wrote:
I think the Repubs will inevitably be hurt by this, even if there aren't any charges. The public getting a look at the sleazy world of lobbying isn't a good thing.

I mean, the wives of public officials working as lobbyists? That's just nasty.
Where were you when Daschle was in power?
Daschle?

Jeesh, you may as well complain about Sam Rayburn.

Excellent point.
So the question is, why now?

Freakout Jackson · 2005-11-26 11:18 am

ShnickyShnack wrote:
Jeesh, you may as well complain about Gene Rayburn.

confused

ShnickyShnack · 2005-11-26 11:34 am

Farmerkev wrote:
ShnickyShnack wrote:
Farmerkev wrote:

Where were you when Daschle was in power?
Daschle?

Jeesh, you may as well complain about Sam Rayburn.
Excellent point.
So the question is, why now?

The Repubs took pre-existing practices and attitudes and took them to new extremes of hubris and are finally heading for the inevitable fall?

Or maybe the massive anti-Republican liberal conspiracy finally got its act together?

Tetrachloride · 2005-12-07 2:19 pm

Talking Points Memo

Was that a shoe falling? Susan Ralston is the woman who has managed to be at the center of both the Abramoff and the CIA leak investigations. She was Abramoff's executive assistant back in the day; then she took the same job with Karl Rove.

But maybe no more.

The Philippine News (Ralston is of Filipino descent) reports (link courtesy of The Plank) that she's moved on to the Commerce Department because she's been under "too much pressure" at the White House.

I think she's under too much pressure to lie to the grand jury. The more people out of the White House, the better chance they won't be called to the grand jury, especially regarding a coverup.

bedstuy · 2005-12-07 2:33 pm

Yes, but IS IT ILLEGAL???

MysticCow · 2005-12-07 3:02 pm

bedstuy wrote:
Yes, but IS IT ILLEGAL???

Maybe, maybe not. But we are talking about a witch hunt here, so there have to be some witches...

bedstuy · 2005-12-07 3:08 pm

MysticCow wrote:
bedstuy wrote:
Yes, but IS IT ILLEGAL???
Maybe, maybe not. But we are talking about a witch hunt here, so there have to be some witches...

Oh, so Bush's Justice Department is full of witches? Brilliant!

Sassy · 2005-12-07 4:21 pm

ShnickyShnack wrote:
Or maybe the massive anti-Republican liberal conspiracy finally got its act together?

lol lol lol

bratboy · 2005-12-07 4:24 pm

MysticCow wrote:
bedstuy wrote:
Yes, but IS IT ILLEGAL???
Maybe, maybe not. But we are talking about a witch hunt here, so there have to be some witches...

How is this a "witch hunt," in any sense of the term? Who's conducting it?

MysticCow · 2005-12-07 4:44 pm

Check the title of the topic, dear.

Forums | MacLife

#1 2005-11-25 1:34 pm

Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#2 2005-11-25 2:28 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#3 2005-11-25 2:52 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#4 2005-11-25 9:51 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#5 2005-11-25 10:06 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#6 2005-11-25 10:12 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#7 2005-11-25 10:27 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

Farmerkev wrote:

#8 2005-11-25 10:34 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#9 2005-11-26 4:29 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#10 2005-11-26 4:47 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#11 2005-11-26 5:54 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

Tetrachloride wrote:

#12 2005-11-26 10:09 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#13 2005-11-26 10:14 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#14 2005-11-26 10:27 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#15 2005-11-26 10:57 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

Farmerkev wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#16 2005-11-26 11:08 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#17 2005-11-26 11:18 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#18 2005-11-26 11:34 am

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

Farmerkev wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Farmerkev wrote:

#19 2005-12-07 2:19 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#20 2005-12-07 2:33 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

#21 2005-12-07 3:02 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

bedstuy wrote:

#22 2005-12-07 3:08 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

MysticCow wrote:

bedstuy wrote:

#23 2005-12-07 4:21 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

ShnickyShnack wrote:

#24 2005-12-07 4:24 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

MysticCow wrote:

bedstuy wrote:

#25 2005-12-07 4:44 pm

Re: Abramoffgate: the next big evil politically-inspired Repub witchunt!

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