Threat of federal charges against DeLay grows
By Holly Yeager and Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington
Published: November 22 2005 00:05 | Last updated: November 22 2005 00:05
The likelihood of federal charges against members of Congress intensified on Monday when a key player in a broad corruption probe pleaded guilty to conspiracy and agreed to co-operate with investigators.
Under a plea agreement with the Department of Justice, Michael Scanlon, a former aide to Tom DeLay, the powerful Texas congressman, admitted that he had conspired to defraud four Native American Indian tribes that operated or hoped to operate casinos.
Mr Scanlon and Jack Abramoff, a Republican with close ties to Mr DeLay, earned more than $80m from Indian tribes from 2001-2004. Those transactions are being examined by the Senate Indian affairs committee, and by federal investigators.
Mr Abramoff has been indicted in Florida on fraud and conspiracy charges involving gambling boats.
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