Posted on 12/20/2005 9:55:08 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Lawyers for Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff are in discussions with the Justice Department about his possible cooperation in a congressional corruption probe, a person involved in the investigation said Tuesday night.
The probe involves a number of members of Congress as well as staff. A former aide to ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, has already pleaded guilty.
Abramoff would plead guilty under an arrangement that would settle a criminal case against him in Florida as well as potential corruption charges in Washington, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
The person describing the ongoing discussions said they have been going on "a long time, months." Only in the past week or so have they come "close to any kind of fruition," the person said.
The person cautioned that unspecified issues remain to be worked out. The person added that if the conversations proceeded smoothly, an agreement could be reached quickly, as early as "the beginning of next week." Abramoff has not been charged in the corruption investigation.
The New York Times first reported on the talks Tuesday night in a story its Web site.
The person declined to specify how many members of Congress Abramoff could implicate, saying only that "cooperation is cooperation; it's full cooperation."
Abramoff and his partner, Michael Scanlon, collected over $80 million from Indian tribes to lobby Congress on casino gambling and other issues. The Justice Department is investigating whether trips, gifts and campaign donations arranged by Abramoff were in exchange for official acts by members of Congress, and whether the tribes were defrauded.
In recent days, members of Congress who accepted campaign donations from Abramoff's clients have begun returning the money as the investigation ratchets up in intensity.
Among those returning the most money is Sen. Conrad Burns (news, bio, voting record), R-Mont., for an estimated $150,000.
On Tuesday night, Abramoff's attorney, Abbe Lowell, declined to comment, as did Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrakasse.
In the Florida case, Abramoff is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 9. He and a former business partner were indicted last summer on charges of conspiracy and fraud. They allegedly concocted a fake $23 million wire transfer to make it appear they were putting a significant portion of their own money in the 2000 purchase of a fleet of gambling boats.
The ex-business partner, Adam Kidan, pleaded guilty last week and agreed to testify against Abramoff, putting pressure on the Washington lobbyist to reach a settlement to reduce his potential prison term.
Harry Reid hasn't returned his money yet.
WaPo graphic on 'How Abramoff Spread the Wealth'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2005/12/12/GR2005121200286.html
More media bias. This "Republican" lobbyist also gave to Democrats such as Byron Dorgan (D-ND).
Don't you love the way they call Abramoff a "Republican" Lobbyist? as if he has never given a dime to a Democrat.... Scores of Democrats have recieved money form Abramoff
FRom the WaPo graphic, Gephardt and Daschle have moved on as well,, Patty Murray, Patrick J. Kennedy and Reid, are also in the Top 20 recipients of the tribal dough'n'go operation.
This is a Pete Yost ap article. after all.
I added the link to the WaPo graphic for balance. ;-)
Yup.
ping
He almost certainly is going to be naming alot of democrats too.
Which will make the media, and the entire left wing howl like wolves.
Abramoff was corrupt, and he greased wheels wherever he could, regardless of party affiliation, when he starts naming names, watch this whole thing suddenly change.
I do not like Harry Reid...
BUT!
I have to write down the company I work for when I give a contribution. The company is not giving the contribution. I am giving it. But the government wants to know where I work. Why? Because my contribution gets listed as coming from my employer! So, Enron gave $xxx to this or that candidate is a MSM lie. The employees gave $xxx. Not Enron. Same with Lockheed or ATT or IBM or Microsoft.
I listened to weasel Reid and I agreed with him. I am now waiting to see if this liar can only apply the same rules to others!
The problem is, Abramoff was laundering Indian casino "donations" through various other parties. That's all part of the investigation. Reid wrote Gale Norton a letter urging her to reject the Jena tribe of Choctaw Indians Casino request. The day after he writes the letter, one of Abramoff's tribal clients writes a check to Reid's leadership fund.
I was unaware of that. I heard Reid say the contributions came from companies (ie. employees) owned by Abramoff.
Yeah, imagine Reid being anything less than honest. LOL!
"On Tuesday night, Abramoff's attorney, Abbe Lowell, declined to comment, as did Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrakasse."
Is this a great town or what? "Republican" lobbyist" Arbamoff hires one of the towns most partisan democrats to represent him although this article does not identify him as a "democratic lawyer." Abramoff gave or directed money to almost as many democrats as he did republicans, which is pretty common for a lobbyist. By hiring Abbe Lowell he sends this message. Democrats, cut me some slack and I'll give you some republicans.
How do others read this?
By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer = another rat dirtbag!
Under this principle, if I get a speeding ticket, then I should be able to walk in and say "well your honor I slowed down after I was caught. Then in a perfect world he would say "OK, you may go."
Or if I rob a bank, then return the money a few days later, I should not be charged with a crime, because after all, I returned the ill gotten gains.
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