Culture of Corruption..Another Watergate possible 20 members of Congress

[mrbowler]

This will be a huge story to follow-now that Abramoff will start singing...It appears that Rep. Bob Ney will be among the first. Maybe this culture of corruption is a more accurate assumption then previously thought??

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"Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist who spawned a congressional corruption scandal, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felonies and pledged to cooperate in a criminal probe edging closer to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay."

[mrbowler]

Here is story in which it references 20 members of Congress...

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"Federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging corruption investigation that is believed to be focusing on as many as 20 members of Congress and aides."

"Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher said the Justice Department will pursue the investigation “wherever it goes.”

“We’re going to expend the resources to make sure people know that government is not for sale,” she said at a news conference."

[Rainmaker]

Originally Posted by mrbowler

Here is story in which it references 20 members of Congress...

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"Federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging corruption investigation that is believed to be focusing on as many as 20 members of Congress and aides."

"Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher said the Justice Department will pursue the investigation “wherever it goes.”

“We’re going to expend the resources to make sure people know that government is not for sale,” she said at a news conference."

The Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported the number to be around 60. Quite a leap, don't cha' think?

[mrbowler]

Here is related story in regards to Tom Delay..Texas Courts look like criminal case will proceed...

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"Texas' highest criminal court on Monday denied a request by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay to toss out criminal money laundering charges against him or grant him a quick trial.

The denial of the two legal motions by the Court of Criminal Appeals came just two days after the former U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader announced he would not try to reclaim the post."

[whitequeen96]

Sic 'em, Alice!

[mrbowler]

Looks like a little investigation about White House...It has been interesting watching all sorts of people sending back any contributions related.

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White House Silent on Abramoff Meetings:

"Abramoff had "a few staff-level meetings" at the Bush White House, presidential spokesman Scott McClellan said Tuesday. But he would not say with whom Abramoff met, which interests he was representing or how he got access to the White House."

Oops-On second thought a change of opinion(flip-flop)

"McClellan has told reporters he was checking into Abramoff's meetings. "I'm making sure that I have a thorough report back to you on that," he said in his press briefing Jan. 5. "And I'll get that to you, hopefully very soon."

McClellan said Tuesday that he checked on it at reporters' requests, but wouldn't discuss the private staff-level meetings. "We are not going to engage in a fishing expedition," he said."

[mrbowler]

Looks like the days of drinking and drugs have had a impact on the Presidents memory Would you remember someone if you met them a half dozen times? Ok to be fair the President does meet many people...


President Bush says he doesn't recall meeting convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff:


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"Abramoff met a few times with White House staff and attended Hanukkah receptions in 2001 and 2002, the White House has said, but officials there have refused to disclose how many times he's been into the complex or what business he had there.

The White House also has not released any photos featuring the president and Abramoff, who was declared a Bush "pioneer" for raising at least $100,000 for the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign."

[mrbowler]

You have to give credit to the general american public on this one IMO.
And yes I agree that pictures will be used for political purposes..it is what it is(a picture is worth a thousand words).

Most Americans want Bush reveal lobbyist ties:

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"Three in four Americans want President George W. Bush to disclose his aides' links with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a demand the White House has rejected so far, according to a poll published on Saturday."

"Bush said he did not know Abramoff and would not release photographs in which the two appeared together.
He said the release of the photographs would be used for "pure political purposes"

[mrbowler]

The beat goes on


Three More Lawmakers Tied to Lobbyist:

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Three members of Congress have been linked to efforts by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former General Services Administration official to secure leases of government property for Abramoff's clients, according to court filings by federal prosecutors on Friday.

The filings in U.S. District Court do not allege any wrongdoing by the elected officials but list them in documents portraying David Safavian, a former GSA chief of staff, as an active adviser to Abramoff, giving the lobbyists tips on how to use members of Congress to navigate the agency's bureaucracy.

Abramoff is cooperating with federal investigators in a wide-ranging probe of corruption on Capitol Hill that threatens several powerful members of Congress and their staff members. Last month, he pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud.

Safavian is charged with lying to a GSA ethics officer when he said Abramoff was not seeking business with the agency at the time the lobbyist paid for Safavian and several others to go on a golf outing to Scotland in August 2002.

At the time of the trip, prosecutors said, Abramoff was trying to get GSA approval for leases of the Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington for an Indian tribe to develop and for federal property in Silver Spring, Md., for use by a Jewish school.

Two of the elected officials referred to in Friday's filings have been identified in published reports as Reps. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, and Don Young, R-Alaska. According to Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, the two representatives wrote to the GSA in September 2002, urging the agency to give preferential treatment to groups such as Indian tribes when evaluating development proposals for the Old Post Office.

LaTourette maintains he did nothing improper by advocating special opportunities for certain small businesses in areas known as HUBzones, or Historically Underutilized Business zones. His spokeswoman, Deborah Setliff, said that the letter was reviewed by Young's chief of staff and counsel and that it did not advocate any particular business over another.

A spokesman for Young did not return telephone calls.

Friday's filings by prosecutors refer to a third member of Congress, Rep. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va. Her name appears in e-mails that suggest she was trying to help Abramoff secure a GSA lease for land in Silver Spring for a religious school.

Capito claims to know nothing about the effort. "The action taken by her former chief of staff was done without her knowledge, approval or consent," said her spokesman, Joel Brubaker. "She was not aware of any contact with GSA of any type on this matter."

Mark Johnson, Capito's former chief of staff, said he did not bring the issue to Capito's attention. He said he was contacted by Neil Volz, a colleague of Abramoff's and a former chief of staff for Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio.

Johnson said Volz asked him to check on the status of a project involving the GSA. Johnson said he believes he called a friend at the GSA but doesn't recall the outcome.

Prosecutors included the e-mails in documents filed in response to a request by Safavian's lawyers to dismiss the indictment against him. Safavian's lawyers want a federal judge to throw out the charges on grounds there is no evidence of wrongdoing.

In their filing, prosecutors laid out a series of contacts between Abramoff and Safavian that show the former GSA official gave inside information and advice to the lobbyist.

Safavian used his personal e-mail during business hours to communicate with Abramoff several times, according to prosecutors. He also edited the draft of a letter that was probably sent under LaTourette and Young's names.

And Safavian advised Abramoff to tell his wife to use her maiden name during a meeting with GSA officials so she wouldn't draw attention to her politically connected husband's involvement in the project.

In a July 23, 2002, e-mail to a GSA official, Safavian discussed getting information about the Silver Spring site to Capito's office. But Volz discovered a complication the next day.

Volz told Abramoff that someone at the GSA wanted the congresswoman to put her request in writing. "We can't ask the most vulnerable Republican incumbent member of Congress in the House to put something in writing that can be made public," Volz wrote. "The congresswoman's office has already put the request in and you would think that would be enough!!!"

[mrbowler]

Looks like Harry Reid isn't as clean-you be the judge

Reid's staff met with Abramoff team, helped clients:
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The Associated Press has learned that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The Nevada senator's staff also had regular contact with Abramoff's team about legislation affecting other clients.

The activities are detailed in billing records and correspondence obtained by The AP that are far more extensive than previously disclosed. They occurred over three years as Reid collected nearly 68-thousand dollars in donations from Abramoff's firm, lobbying partners and clients.

Reid's office acknowledges having "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters -- such as blocking some tribal casinos -- in ways Abramoff's clients might have deemed helpful. But it says none of his actions were affected by donations or done for Abramoff.

Spokesman Jim Manley says Reid's actions were consistent with his long-held beliefs, such as not letting tribal casinos expand beyond reservations, and were taken to defend the interests of Nevada constituents.

Reid has led the Democratic Party's attacks portraying Abramoff's lobbying and fund-raising as a Republican scandal.

[mrbowler]

LOL...Abramoff trying to help the memory of President Bush.

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"Jack Abramoff said in correspondence made public on Thursday that President Bush met him "almost a dozen" times, disputing White House claims Bush did not know the former lobbyist at the center of a corruption scandal.

"The guy saw me in almost a dozen settings, and joked with me about a bunch of things, including details of my kids. Perhaps he has forgotten everything, who knows," Abramoff wrote in an e-mail to Kim Eisler, national editor for the Washingtonian magazine.

Abramoff added that Bush also once invited him to his Texas ranch"

[mrbowler]

It looks like Abramoff had some connections with Rove/White House Invitation Bush in Oval Office.
Everyone is losing brain cells

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"Both said Abramoff talked of his access to Rove and cited his relationship with Rove's secretary, Susan Ralston, who serves as Rove's administrative assistant. Before joining the White House staff, Ralston was an assistant to Abramoff. One of the former associates said Abramoff referred to Ralston as "my implant" in the White House."

[mrbowler]

Resign before being forced out

Domestic policy adviser who resigned in January accused in return scam:

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A former domestic policy adviser to President Bush has been charged with theft for allegedly receiving phony refunds at department stores.

Allen was the No. 2 official in the Health and Human Services Department when Bush nominated him in April 2003 to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va.

[whitequeen96]

Isn't that something?!! Man, I would be embarassed if I had voted for this administration!

[mrbowler]

Originally Posted by whitequeen96

Isn't that something?!! Man, I would be embarassed if I had voted for this administration!

.

Lets see another shame of a contract with America plus throw in a wink & nod for lobbyists-Oh Joy !

The beat goes on...sounds like Republican Majority Leader has the background to clean things up

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"Boehner was one of the architects of the 1994 revolution"

"Boehner once gave out checks from tobacco companies on the House floor"