Abramoff Reports to Prison Tomorrow; Offers Testimony on Democratic Senators
November 14, 2006 4:13 PM
Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:
ABC NewsConvicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff is scheduled to report to federal prison tomorrow, over the objections of federal prosecutors who say they still need his help to pursue leads on officials he allegedly bribed. Sources close to the investigation say Abramoff has provided information on his dealings with and campaign contributions and gifts to "dozens of members of Congress and staff," including what Abramoff has reportedly described as "six to eight seriously corrupt Democratic senators."
The sources say Abramoff was about to provide information about Bush administration officials, including Karl Rove, "accepting things of value" from Abramoff.
Abramoff has been meeting almost daily in secret locations around Washington with Justice Department investigators who are examining thousands of e-mails and do ents, according to sources close to the investigation. The convicted lobbyist was spotted in downtown Washington, D.C., yesterday, carrying a computer laptop case.
If there are corrupt Democratic Senators or Representatives then they should be exposed and tried. Better to clean house of them right now, just like Dubya should have done with Karl Rove years ago.
If they are crooked, clean em out. I would be interested to find out what the Dems supposedly did for Abramhoff's clients. It's not illegal to take money from a lobbyist. To be a crime, they have to provide something in return, quid pro quo. That's tough when you're the minority party.
Yet more post election bad-press for the Democrats. Nobody knew in October that he was talking about Dems, I guess.
Too busy reporting on a gay preacher in Colorado - because that affects us all.
This Abramoff thing is the most tragic event in recorded history.
Nope: Darko
What good does bribing the party out of power do?
I'm fine with cleaning house. The question is why didn't he name names sooner? Dumbass.
I'm inclined to believe that Abramoff didn't, in the past 8 days, just begin naming Democrats. I'm inclined to believe that THIS is when it was chosen to be reported.
Similar to how the Foley story timed out - instead of breaking 6 months before the election, held to 6 weeks. Timing is everything.
November 15, 2006
Jack Abramoff Reports to Md. Prison
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 9:11 a.m. ET
BERLAND, Md. (AP) --Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, convicted of federal charges after using expensive gifts, campaign donations and exotic trips to win access to the powerful in Washington, went to prison Wednesday.
Abramoff arrived at about 6:30 a.m. EST at a relatively secluded prison facility in western Maryland and began to serve a nearly six-year prison sentence for a fraudulent deal to buy a fleet of casino ships in Florida.
Abramoff was delivered out of sight of waiting reporters and camera crews and his arrival was announced in a two-paragraph statement by a prison representative.
The part of the camp where Abramoff will be kept is a 334-bed minimum security facility located near an industrial park along the north branch of the Potomac River.
The camp is all male. It consists of a number of two-story dormitories that are light red cinderblock structures. Each dormitory contains a number of six-bed cubicles, and Abramoff was being assigned to one of those. The prison is nearly surrounded by Appalachian Mountain ridges rising along either bank of the Potomac on the Maryland and West Virginia sides of the river.
( sounds like a vacation hotel. Why don't they build these "white collar" prisons in Maricopa county AZ or along the TX border, with no a/c? )
Stephen Finger, executive assistant at the prison, said all inmates work while there. Incoming inmates such as Abramoff typically are assigned to menial jobs such as food service work. Finer said that inmates can work their way up from low-level jobs paying 12 cents an hour to better positions paying up to 40 cents an hour.
Abramoff also is awaiting sentencing for corrupting government officials and their staff members. He made a name for himself on Capitol Hill by lavishing politicians with football tickets or whisking them away on faraway golf junkets, and thus became the face of government corruption. This contributed to the Republican party's Election Day defeats nationwide.
If it were up to the Justice Department, however, Abramoff wouldn't be heading to prison -- at least not yet. He could hold the key to a sweeping corruption case involving Congress, members of the Bush administration and their aides, and prosecutors said putting their star witness behind bars would impede the investigation.
( so who is overriding the prosecutors? Puto Gonzalez? )
But a Miami federal judge refused to delay the sentence, meaning Abramoff's cooperation will have to continue from prison, where he will be inmate No. 27593-112. Abramoff's lawyers had no comment.
( oh, OK, and FL federal judge. a red-state judge, got it )
Abramoff was originally assigned to a federal prison in Pennsylvania about four hours away from Washington. Prosecutors wanted him assigned, instead, to the prison here, which is about two hours away.
The Justice Department said the issue has been resolved and, though the Bureau of Prisons was not commenting earlier on where Abramoff would report, prison officials began making preparation for the crush of reporters outside the berland facility.
The berland complex has a medium-security prison with about 1,100 prisoners and a minimum-security camp with about 300 prisoners. The Justice Department had indicated in court papers that it wanted Abramoff to serve time in the minimum-security camp.
Abramoff enjoyed access and influence across Capitol Hill, from his close ties to congressmen to his hundreds of contacts with White House officials. He kept his powerful friends flush with campaign cash, gifts and trips such as a $92,000 chartered jet to Scotland for a golf outing with Rep. Bob Ney, Bush administration official David Safavian and congressional aides.
Ney, an Ohio Republican who recently resigned, became the first congressman convicted in the case when he admitted last month that he took official actions on behalf of Abramoff's clients in exchange for his gifts and campaign donations.
The investigation had already ensnared Ney's former chief of staff as well as two aides to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. The investigation cost DeLay his leadership seat before he ultimately resigned, and it contributed to the Election Day defeat of Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.
Safavian was sentenced in October to 18 months in prison for lying to investigators about his ties to Abramoff. He is asking a federal judge to postpone his sentence until he can appeal his conviction.
Burns, who received about $150,000 in Abramoff-related donations and whose aides traveled on the lobbyist's jet to the 2001 Super Bowl, has denied any wrongdoing. Though two of DeLay's aides have pleaded guilty, the former majority leader maintains his innocence and has not been charged.
Also under scrutiny are Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., who accepted campaign money from Abramoff and used the lobbyist's luxury sports box for a fundraiser without initially reporting it, and former Deputy Interior Secretary Steven Griles, who senators and a former colleague said gave preferential treatment to Abramoff and his Indian tribe clients.
So, Abramoff is a democrat? All those visits to the WH and nobody knew?
I'm inclined to call bull . The vast right wing conspiracy would've reported it and Yoni would have acted like Abramoff told him personally. You know how things work.
Funny how the media now discover all this stuff. Like the Realtor. Mr. Reid.
Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others
November 15, 2006 1:23 PM
Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:
As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.
A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical.
"We have no idea what Abramoff is telling prosecutors to save his skin, but I do know that these kind of old allegations are completely ridiculous and untrue," Sen. Reid's spokesman Jim Manley told ABC News.
A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."
Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him on matters related to Indian gambling.
The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to his campaign.
Reid has denied there was any connection between the letters and the contributions and has said he is a longtime opponent of certain kinds of Indian reservation gambling.
The AP reported that Reid acknowledged "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening to block rival tribal casinos.
The AP also reported that Abramoff's billing records showed extensive contact with Reid's office over a three-year period in which Reid collected more than $68,000 from Abramoff's firm, partners and clients.
Prosecutors have said that Abramoff's cooperation is essential to the corruption investigation, but, so far, they have brought only one prosecution against a member of Congress connected to Abramoff, Republican Bob Ney of Ohio, who resigned.
The source said prosecutors do not intend to rely solely on Abramoff's account of events, and his allegations against Reid and others will not necessarily result in criminal charges.
Sources close to the federal investigation say Abramoff has offered testimony about his contacts with "six to eight seriously corrupt Democratic senators" and an ever larger number of Republican members of Congress.
In addition to Reid, the sources say Abramoff has been most closely questioned about his contacts with Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who was defeated in last week's election.
"Being defeated may have been one of the best things that ever happened to Burns," said a source close to the investigation. "There is much more interest in members of Congress who are still in office," the source said.
Burns, who received more than $150,000 in Abramoff-connected campaign contributions, has strongly denied any wrongdoing and returned the money.
Sen. Reid has been an outspoken critic of the connections between Abramoff and Republican legislators.
In a speech earlier this year, Sen. Reid described it as "a program where the lobbyists paid and the Republican members of Congress played."
The Justice Department said it would have no comment on the ongoing Abramoff investigation.
Timing is everything, isn't it?
Those damn democrat bas s!!
Democrats must not show partisanship. If any democrat is caught in the Abramoff scandal then they must dealt with swiftly and severly. You're gone!!!!!
Joe, when are you going to learn. Politicians are politicians.
Please note my signature.
You can only hope that the people you elect try to do what is best. There is
no guarantees.
Bull - It has been know for some time, only seems the Liberal Press and TV chose not to mention it.
They were digging but did not find the Karl Rove Connection, but it is there. (IMO) This has been on the net for some time it picque my intrest, not only for the politicl inside but for why we do not have gambling in Texas, i.e $ from Casino in Ok and La and Jack & the boys to Texas Politicans to keep it out.
SOme ex.
An NRSC Report Shows That Nearly 90 Percent Of Senate Democrats Have Taken Abramoff-Related Money. The NRSC has begun circulating among fellow Republicans new reports showing that all but five of the chambers 44 Democrats have taken Abramoff-related money. In addition, the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee have taken more than $1.2 million, according to records provided to The Washington Times. (Charles Hurt, Dorgan Returns Abramoff Money, The Washington Times, December 14, 2005)
In bent Senate Democrat-Affiliated Campaign And Leadership Committees Received Over $729,000 From Indian Tribe Clients And Lobbying Associates Of Jack Abramoff*. (Campaign Finance Analysis Project Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed December 7, 2005; Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed December 7, 2005; Internal Revenue Service Website, www.irs.gov, Accessed April 21, 2005)
40 Of The 45 Members Of The Senate Democrat Caucus:
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) Received At Least $22,500
Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) Received At Least $6,500
Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) Received At Least $1,250
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Received At Least $2,000
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Received At Least $20,250
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Received At Least $21,765
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) Received At Least $7,500
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Received At Least $12,950
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) Received At Least $8,000
Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) Received At Least $7,500
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) Received At Least $14,792
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Received At Least $79,300
Senator Durbin (D-IL) Received At Least $14,000
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Received At Least $2,000
Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) Received At Least $1,250
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) Received At Least $45,750
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Received At Least $9,000
Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) Received At Least $2,000
Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) Received At Least $14,250
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) Received At Least $3,300
[B]Senator John Kerry (D-MA) Received At Least $98,550[/B]
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Received At Least $28,000
Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) Received At Least $4,000
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) Received At Least $6,000
Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Received At Least $29,830
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Received At Least $14,891
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Received At Least $10,550
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) Received At Least $78,991
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Received At Least $20,168
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) Received At Least $5,200
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) Received At Least $7,500
Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) Received At Least $2,300
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) Received At Least $3,500
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) Received At Least $68,941
Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) Received At Least $4,000
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) Received At Least $4,500
Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) Received At Least $4,300
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Received At Least $29,550
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Received At Least $6,250
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) Received At Least $6,250
National Democrat Party Affiliated Committees Received Over $1.2 Million From Indian Tribe Clients And Lobbying Associates Of Jack Abramoff. (Campaign Finance Analysis Project Website, www.campaignfinanceanalysisproject.com, Accessed December 7, 2005; Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed December 7, 2005; Internal Revenue Service Website, www.irs.gov, Accessed April 21, 2005)
The Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Received Over $430,000
The Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Received Over $629,000
The Democrat National Committee (DNC) Received Over $177,000
Yeah, that's common knowledge. Just taking money from his clients is not illegal.
Follow the $, be back later.and where there is smoke there is fire:
It is also clear that Abramoff targeted Democrats. The Washington Post website has a detailed graph showing the top 20 recipients of cash from Abramoff, his clients or associated companies and groups. Number 13 on the list is Dorgan. But number 10 is Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.
On Fox News Sunday on December 18, however, Reid told host Chris Wallace: " don't lump me in with Jack Abramoff. This is a Republican scandal.
Don't try to give any of it to me
http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/4285_0_2_0_C/
A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."
"if you asked for $ would'nt you expect to give something in turn or is it for getting paid for something you have already done?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/..._report_1.html
Last edited by AFE7FATMAN; 11-16-2006 at 04:42 AM.
Here is how you connect the Dot's, althought just taking $ is not illegail
this is the way it work and I don't have time to find the stuff that was out there on Jacak & his Boys prior to after the election that effect the Democrats,
However hers is a democrat explaining it in his own words:
When A National Leader; tells those offering a bribe: "I Want to deal with you guys awhile before I make any transations at all. After we've done some business, well then I might change my mind."
"I'm going to tell you this, I'm not B S-ing you fellows, I can get it done my way. There's no question about it."
When a Leader is looking straight at 50K neatly stacked on on table; and making the above statements -- It is, as it ought to be, of concern!
Taken from John Murtha and ABSCAM
Why are you throwing ABSCAM into this?
If you don't have anything else about Abramoff, just say so.
I find it hilarious that the Republican AG couldn't get anything out of Abramoff about the Democrats before the election. Did he not know it was behing held?
Nonetheless, let the chips fall where they may. I don't care who gets pushed out if they are dirty.
But the real question remains - when does a campaign contribution become a bribe?
If you give me $25,000 at a campaign Turkey dinner and ask me to support eliminating the death tax (which I do ), have I accepted a bribe?
The lawyers all say its a matter of whether the money was given as a quid pro quo a direct payment for a specific act.
But what if I don't support the Death tax?
or I change my well known stated position the next day?
OK. I have nothing else about Abramoff, at this time.
IMO JACK HELD BACK as part of his sentenceing deal, and will now feed the
AG bits, and pieces, he even might blackmail some to help pay his
fines, or simply get a donation to help with his legal fees
Maybe this was the promised Oct Suprise, but Jack couldn't be bought, any more.
Agreed it is a case of The Pot Calling the Kettle Black.
The more you read and observe about this politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that's out always looks the best. -- Will Rogers, 1924
I don't think AFE gets the crust of what Abramoff was doing. He was a Washington lobbyist, so yes he lobbied both Democrats, including Harry Reid and Durgin, but Abramoff was also taking money from lobbying Indian tribes, kicking millions back to himself and his associates and using that money as a slush fund for golfing trips for Tom Delay, Duke Cunningham, and Ney, all unreported.
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