Who's Jack Abramoff Gonna Take With Him? [View All]

12/5/05
Storm Clouds Gathering
Source: Scandal could take in at least a dozen in Congress
By Silla Brush

It's been two years now since federal investigators began trying to untangle the dealings of Washington uberlobbyist Jack Abramoff. But what was once a potential scandal looming over the horizon is now looking more ominous by the day.

Last week's guilty plea by Abramoff's onetime partner, a former top aide to the beleaguered Rep. Tom DeLay, darkened the skies further. Michael Scanlon's admission he had conspired to bribe public officials and defrauded four Indian gaming casinos of millions in fees effectively makes him the government's star witness in a probe that threatens to ensnare officials throughout the nation's capital.

U.S. News has learned that the conduct of at least a dozen representatives and senators is now being scrutinized by a small army of federal prosecutors and FBI agents. According to sources familiar with the inquiry, a federal task force, which includes investigators from the Interior Department--which has authority to regulate Indian reservations--is examining the relationships between lawmakers and Scanlon and Abramoff. A key question is whether the lawmakers took official actions after receiving campaign contributions, free trips, or other gifts from the lobbyists, the sources say.

So far, the investigation has resulted in the resignation only of the chief procurement officer at the White House Office of Management and Budget, who was indicted on charges of lying to investigators. Still, there are suddenly lots of folks with the shivers on Capitol Hill--and it's not just because of the change in the weather.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/051205/5abramoff.htm

and this from firedoglake:

We've all heard the rumor that the list includes DeLay, Doolittle, Nay and Burns. Roger also sites an article in the OC Weekly referring to the Abramoff 6, which includes Dana Rohrabacher, Dave Vitter and Tom Feeny (sorry no Doolittle).

Since the US News article goes out of its way to say "a dozen representatives and senators," my personal hopes are pinned on Cornyn, who as Texas AG at the time was said to have had his response to flaming fundies demanding the shutdown of Indian casinos "choreographed" by Ralph Reed, who was taking money (through Abramoff) from the competition. (Cornyn did, in fact, eventually shut down the casinos.)
http://firedoglake.blogspot.com/