Subpoenas Issued for Abramoff-Russian Ties:

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Investigators issued a subpoena to an associate of Jack Abramoff for all documents related to activities with “any department, ministry, or office holder or agent of the Russian government.” The Boston Globe reports that the subpoenas look to shine a light on the business dealings of, and possible congressional bribery by, Abramoff client Naftasib, a Russian energy giant and a “major supplier to the Russian military.” Investigators believe that Naftasib, run by Alexander Koulakovsky and Marina Nevskaya, paid Abramoff and his associates $2.1 million for lobbying services through a Dutch shell company, Voor Huisen. Of particular interest is a trip to Russia that Abramoff took with then-Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) arranged by Naftasib executives and the $1 million dollars Naftasib donated to U.S. Family Network, “a shell operation for Abramoff” run by former DeLay chief of staff Ed Buckham.