ABRAMOFF'S DELAWARE CONNECTION: The names of Delaware Sens Joe Biden (of Judiciary anti-Alito fame) and Tom Carper surfaced on lists of federal lawmakers who received money, from the ubiquitous super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff at the center of the largest ever public corruption involving Congress and its staff members.
In brief, Abramoff and his cronies, including his aide, former Rehoboth Beach, Del lifeguard Mike Scanlon, ripped off Indian tribes seeking federal gambling licenses by playing them off each other and charging both sides millions for legal services. Carper showed up on a list produced by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, which has so far tracked almost $4.5 million in contributions to some 240 lawmakers. Carper's staff found about $7,000 in campaign money linked to Abramoff, which the senator first thought he'd keep because he's never met Abramoff or his partners.
Biden received only $1,250 (that we know of), which was a straight-up individual campaign contribution. The Biden money came from one of 1,500 lawyers -- yes, that's one thousand five hundred, a scary number -- who work at Greenberg Traurig LLP, Abramoff's old law firm. G-T LLP has offices in London, Amsterdam, Atlanta, Brussels, Chicago, New York, Zurich, Los Angeles. And, of course, Wilmington, Del.
Here's how to follow through:
Sen Biden
PHONE: 1-202-224-5042
FAX: 1-202-224-0139
E-MAIL: senator@biden.senate.gov
Thanks Liz for that great info.
The tribes all tried to keep pace,
As Jack’s Washington bets were placed.
Dean said he’d scalp ‘em
For taking the wampum,
Now its Chairman Dean who is redfaced.