Saturday, June 25, 2005

LA Times: Email reveals dealings of D.C. super-lobbyist - [Film treatment: "Bury me not on K Street" - casting ideas...]


Now the Los Angeles Times writes on the Abramoff saga after the third hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs [I sure do missing working for the Indians!] My POV: I must agree with Abramoff spokesperson Andrew Blum. There was some good done for the tribes. The tribes wanted access to power. The tribes wanted Mr. DeLay. The tribes wanted powerful firms like P-G or GT Law. But Chief Martin and Richard Milanovich did get much more than they bargained for. Say, This should be made into a movie: "Bury me not on K Street" - George Clooney should play Jack. Brad Pitt should be tapped to play Michael Scanlon. Tom DeLay can play himself, it's a natural! To match more of your own [twisted?] Hollywood knowledge with real-live Beltway types, log on to www.jackinthehouse.org

By Mary Curtius - Times Staff Writer - Sat Jun 25, 7:55 AM ET
WASHINGTON — In 2002, even as he raked in millions of dollars in allegedly excessive fees from Indian tribes and other clients, Washington super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff found himself in a financial crunch.

"I am concerned that while you are being very good to others and building a school, we are not taking care of your family financial needs," his accountant wrote in a November 2002 e-mail.

"Even with another few million coming in the next few months we still need to tighten up."

Once closely allied with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay' name(R-Texas), Abramoff is under investigation by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and a federal grand jury for allegedly bilking Indian tribes that were seeking political influence in Washington. He has insisted he did nothing wrong.

This week, Senate investigators released hundreds of e-mails that shed light not only on Abramoff's multilayered financial dealings, but the complex life of the man at the center of an ethics scandal that had cast a shadow over Tom DeLay.

[More]

AP - Wed Jun 22, 2:00 PM ET --Kevin Ring, left, and Shawn Vasell, associates of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, plead the Fifth Amendment and refuse to answer questions on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 22, 2005 during a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in Washington. Abramoff and a lobbying partner used tax-exempt groups and phony invoices to bilk tribal clients out of millions of dollars, using a scheme they called 'gimme five' to divert proceeds to themselves and their pet causes, newly released documents show. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)


McCain calls for fraud probe of GOP lobbyist
Documents show Abramoff, partner diverted tribe's funds


Video on MSNBC

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