Lobbyist trial looks at Istook’s office

Source: NewsOK

Published: September 12, 2009
WASHINGTON — An attorney in the federal corruption case of a lobbyist said Friday that former U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook collected money from lobbyists and then asked them what projects they wanted in a major spending bill.

The workings of Istook’s office were a focal point as the corruption case of lobbyist Kevin Ring got under way. A federal prosecutor and Ring’s defense attorney talked at length in opening statements about how Ring and his associates showered Istook with contributions and gave Istook’s former top aide numerous tickets and meals.

Andrew T. Wise, Ring’s attorney, said Istook held 22 fundraisers in the first three months after becoming the chairman of a subcommittee that had control of highway spending. He said Ring helped raise money for Istook and that now-imprisoned former lobbyist Jack Abramoff had made the first donation to Istook’s political action committee.

Istook, he said, then "opened the doors of his office to the lobbyists and said, ‘Now gentlemen, let me know what you want in the (spending) bill.’”



Read more: http://www.newsok.com/lobbyist-trial-looks-at-istooks-office/article/3400287

karmic justice as far as I'm concerned.

It was in the mid 90's that his so called "Religious Freedom (:eyes:) Amendment" (aka: The Istook Amendment) that ticked me off enough to move me from just muttering to really being more of an activist.

... karma police. Make this be true. Ass-hat supreme, he is. An embarrassment to my state, and the country.