Posted on 12/31/2005 2:32:42 AM PST by leadpenny
One hour ago
WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors and lawyers for lobbyist Jack Abramoff are putting the finishing touches on a plea deal that could be announced early next week, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
The plea agreement would secure the Republican lobbyist's testimony against several members of Congress who received favors from him or his clients.
Abramoff and a former partner were indicted in Miami in August on charges of conspiracy and fraud for allegedly lying about their assets to help secure financing to purchase a fleet of gambling boats.
Pressure has been intensifying on Abramoff to strike a deal with prosecutors since former partner Adam Kidan pleaded guilty earlier this month to fraud and conspiracy in connection with the 2000 SunCruz boat deal.
Abramoff's cooperation would be a boon to an ongoing Justice Department investigation of congressional corruption, possibly helping prosecutors build criminal cases against up to 20 lawmakers of both parties and their staff members.
The people, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks, said the lawyers spoke by phone with U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck, giving him an update on the plea negotiations.
Huck scheduled another status conference for Tuesday afternoon, but the deal could be completed before then, the people said. Abramoff could sign the plea agreement and exchange it with prosecutors via fax over the weekend, they said.
Details of where Abramoff will enter his plea are still being worked out. Abramoff's lawyers have indicated that they want the plea to be made in U.S. District Court in Washington, one person said.
If that happens, Abramoff would plead guilty to charges contained in a criminal information — a filing made by a federal prosecutor with a defendant's permission that bypasses action by a grand jury.
The lawyers could then apprise Huck about the plea and its effect on the case in Miami.
Abramoff and Kidan were charged with concocting a fake $23 million wire transfer to make it appear they were putting their own money into the SunCruz deal. Two lenders agreed to provide $60 million in financing for the purchase based on that false wire transfer, according to prosecutors.
For months, prosecutors in Washington have focused on whether Abramoff defrauded his Indian tribal clients of millions of dollars and used improper influence on members of Congress.
In a five-year span ending in early 2004, tribes represented by the lobbyist contributed millions of dollars in casino income to congressional campaigns, often routing the money through political action committees for conservative lawmakers who opposed gambling.
Abramoff also provided trips, sports skybox fundraisers, golf fees, frequent meals, entertainment and jobs for lawmakers' relatives and aides.
Kidan and Abramoff bought SunCruz from Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, who was slain in 2001 in a gangland-style hit in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Investigators say Boulis and Kidan were fighting for control of SunCruz; Kidan has denied any involvement in Boulis' death.
Three men were arrested in September on murder charges in Boulis' killing and are awaiting trial.
Michael Scanlon, another former Abramoff associate, pleaded guilty in November in a separate case in Washington.
Scanlon said he helped Abramoff and Kidan buy SunCruz by persuading Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record), R-Ohio, to insert comments into the Congressional Record that were "calculated to pressure the then-owner to sell on terms favorable" to Abramoff and Kidan.
Thanks for the ping.
Happy New Year
This will be an interesting week. Hopefully, if people did break the law, they will be taken down, regardless of political party.
Between the Alito hearings and this, a person should make sure they have enough popcorn.
I had clicked on the wrong C-SPAN box. Here is the Wednesday segment (8pm):
Call-In
Jack Abramoff & the Tribal Lobbying Investigation
C-SPAN
Washington, District of Columbia (United States)
ID: 190544 - 01/04/2006 - 1:00 - No Sale
Continetti, Matt, Correspondent, [Weekly Standard, The]
Crowley, Michael, Senior Editor, [New Republic]
The fundraising, political lobbying efforts, and the practices of Jack Abramoff in lobbying on behalf of Indian tribal interests will be discussed. Jack Abramoff's trial in Florida for wire fraud is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 9, 2006. Video clips from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings will be shown.
Michael Crowley and Matthew Continetti will explain the charges of influence peddling that have stemmed from the investigation. They will respond to questions and comments from viewers.
Thanks, I've marked it on the calender.
http://theintelligencer.net/edit/story/013202006_edt01.asp
Today's "Intelligencer Wheeling News-Register:"
Demand Facts From Abramoff
The Intelligencer
Jack Abramoff may be close to signing off on a plea agreement that at least could begin the process of answering a lot of questions about several members of Congress. Specifically, the questions involve whether lawmakers who received favors and money from Abramoff were merely gullible - thinking there were no strings attached to his largess - or aware that the ex-lobbyist was attempting to buy influence.
The sooner those questions are answered - or at least addressed - the better. One of the congressmen involved is U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. He benefited from donations and favors bestowed by Abramoff and another lobbyist, Michael Scanlon. Ney has insisted that he was as much a victim as anyone else of the lobbyists' underhanded dealings.
Cases involving Abramoff, Scanlon and others are extremely complicated. They include allegations that Abramoff defrauded Indian tribes of millions of dollars while he was representing their interests. Allegations that Abramoff and Scanlon influenced members of Congress improperly also have been heard. Scanlon pleaded guilty to some charges in November.
It was reported last week by The Associated Press that federal prosecutors and Abramoff may be near to a deal whereby the ex-lobbyist would enter a plea to some criminal charges. In exchange, of course, prosecutors would expect Abramoff to cooperate in their investigation of any others, including congressmen, involved in wrongdoing.
We hope such a deal is arranged quickly. And we hope that prosecutors insist on full disclosure by Abramoff concerning his ties to lawmakers. The sooner the facts of the case are known, the better.
I suppose the columnist wrote that with a straight face.
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