In e-mail correspondence released by the American Progress Action Fund and the blog Think Progress, Jack Abramoff reveals that he met with President Bush “almost a dozen times.” According to the Los Angeles Times, Abramoff, in e-mails with Washingtonian editor Kim Eisler, claims that he was invited to the President’s ranch in Crawford, Texas and that he engaged in conversations with the President “about a bunch of things, including details of my kids.” The Washington Post reports that Abramoff wrote that Bush “has one of the best memories of any politicians I have ever met.” Abramoff appears upset about the President’s statements claiming that they never met or talked. The President has denied ever talking to or meeting with Abramoff outside of three Hanukah parties at the White House.
Continue readingDeLay Prosecutor Seeks Info From Abramoff Client:
Travis County prosecutor Ronnie Earle, currently prosecuting former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, issued a subpoena to Primedia for records regarding their $2,500 donations to DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority political action committee, according to the Austin American Statesman. Primedia was represented at the time by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The donation may also be tied to a vote on the State Board of Education that scuttled an attempt to end the school news broadcasts that Primedia’s Channel One produces.
Continue readingReid Had Contact With Abramoff Law firm, Aided Clients:
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had routine contacts with members of the law firm where Jack Abramoff worked. The Associated Press reports that Reid wrote four letters that were favorable to the interests of a tribal client of Jack Abramoff and received $68,000 from clients of Abramoff. Reid’s office states, “All the actions that Senator Reid took 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.” Most of the contacts between the law firm and the Senator were related to an Abramoff client in the Marianas Islands who opposed a Democratic bill to raise the minimum wage on the Islands.
Continue readingPombo Used Taxpayer Money for Family Vacation:
In 2003 Richard Pombo (R-CA) rented an RV and, with his family, went on a tour of tour of national parks that cost taxpayers $4,935, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Pombo claims that the trip was an official business trip because, as House Resources Chairman, he oversees all national parks. Pombo insists that there was no additional charge for him taking his family with him. House rules prohibit using government funds for personal travel, but allow family members to accompany congressmen on official trips. Undermining his defense, Pombo wrote about the trip on his committee’s website: “This August, my family and I rented an RV and set out to explore the West. We spent two weeks on vacation, stopping along the way to enjoy the splendor of many of our national parks.”
Continue readingCalifornia Governor’s Top Aide Paid by Developer:
Susan Kennedy, the chief of staff to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, received $10,000 a month to work as a consultant for a developer interested in creating a public-private partnership “that would use the aquifers under his San Bernardino property to store water for use during droughts.” The Los Angeles Times reports that Kennedy is now in charge of pushing the governor’s proposals for the rebuilding of California’s infrastructure and her previous work may be a conflict of interest.
Continue readingOhio Governor Ex-Aide to be Charged:
A former aide to Ohio Governor Bob Taft (R) will be charged on three misdemeanors related to his violation of state campaign finance laws by funneling money from embattled Republican fundraiser Tom Noe to three Republican state Supreme Court candidates. The Toledo Blade reports that H. Douglas Talbott did not attend the meeting of the Ethics Commission where the commissioners voted 6-0 to refer Talbott’s violations to the Franklin County prosecutor. The governor, Bob Taft, has already pleaded guilty to his actions involving Tom Noe.
Continue readingGOP Alleges Montana Democrats Broke Finance Rules:
The state Republican Party has filed a complaint with the FEC charging that the Montana Democratic Party did not fully disclose their finances to the Federal Election Commission. According to the Associated Press, the state GOP is arguing that, “Democrats should have been filing monthly reports for being engaged in campaigning against Sen. Conrad Burns, a federal candidate under FEC rules.” The Democratic Party claims that it filed a six-month disclosure and does not need to file monthly, but did not elaborate.
Continue readingDeLay Receives Top Committee Spot; Denies Abramoff Friendship:
The Los Angeles Times reports that indicted former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) has been handed a seat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing NASA and has received a seat on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department, which is investigating congressional bribery tied to Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The seat on the Appropriations Committee was vacated by ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to bribery charges. DeLay, fearing criticisms and possible charges relating to his close relationship with Jack Abramoff, sent out a nine page letter to constituents stating that accusations that the two were “close personal friends” are “absolutely untrue”, according to Roll Call. DeLay associates Tony Rudy and Ed Buckham are already being investigated for their roles in Abramoff’s influence-peddling.
Continue readingDoolittle Aide Accepted Trip From Abramoff:
The former chief of staff to Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) went on a trip to Puerto Rico paid by Jack Abramoff’s lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig. According to the Associated Press, “House rules prohibit lawmakers and staff from taking trips paid for by registered lobbyists or lobbying firms.” The Doolittle staffer, David Lopez, went on the week-long “fact-finding” trip in 2001. Doolittle has increasingly come under the microscope for his ties to Abramoff. The congressman received tens of thousands of dollars from Abramoff’s tribal clients and $14,000 from the lobbyist himself; his wife was hired by the Alexander Strategy Group, which has since gone under due to an investigation into their dealings with Abramoff; and he and Rep. Richard Pombo have been accused of undermining a federal investigation into an Abramoff client.
Continue readingDreier was For the Commission Before He was Against It:
Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) opposes the creation of an independent panel to investigate ethics violations, proposed by Sen. Barak Obama (D-IL), even though he submitted a proposal in 1997 to create such a panel. The Hill newspaper reports that Dreier and then-Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-IN) proposed the creation of an independent panel to oversee the ethics process in the wake of the ethics investigation of Newt Gingrich. Dreier stated admitted that the failures of the Ethics Committee came from the “conflicts inherent in a completely self-disciplining system.”
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