The Abramoff scandal investigation

They don't want to believe, CI. Noone wants to admit to themselves that they were mislead and bamboozled by a clown like Bush.

Not only that, but the polarizing politics they have employed have been furthered to the point where admitting that BushCo. is wrong on one issue, opens up the door to admitting they are wrong on a lot of issues; something your average Conservative doesn't want to do in our political climate.

Cycloptichorn

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Interior Secretary to resign; Ties to Abramoff Indian deals
RAW STORY
Published: March 10, 2006

Interior Secretary Gale Norton will resign today, the Associated Press has confirmed. Norton, photographed at left with fallen conservative lobbyist Jack Abramoff, was fingered in deals with Native American tribes that Abramoff represented. The photograph at left was released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Abramoff's tribal clients donated $50,000 to a conservative environmental group founded by Norton, hoping to win face time with the Secretary. They eventually did.

Former DeLay deputy chief of staff Tony Rudy helped Abramoff arrange a meeting with Norton, and within months, the lobbyist's clients were making huge contributions to the environmental group Norton started, the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy.

"Do you think you could call that friend and set up a meeting?" then-DeLay staffer Tony Rudy asked fellow House aide Thomas Pyle in a Dec. 29, 2000, e-mail obtained by the Associated Press titled "Gale Norton-Interior Secretary." President Bush had nominated Norton to his cabinet the day before.

More from AP:

"Rudy wrote Abramoff that same day promising he had "good news" about securing a meeting with Norton, forwarding information about the environmental group Norton had founded, according to e-mails obtained by investigators and reviewed by The Associated Press. Rudy's message to Abramoff was sent from Congress' official e-mail system.

"Within months, Abramoff clients donated heavily to the Norton-founded group and to DeLay's personal charity. The Coushatta Indian tribe, for instance, wrote checks in March 2001 for $50,000 to the Norton group and $10,000 to the DeLay Foundation, tribal records show.

"The lobbyist and the Coushattas eventually won face-to-face time with the secretary during a Sept. 24, 2001, dinner sponsored by the group she had founded.

"Abramoff's clients were trying to stop a rival Indian tribe from winning Interior Department approval to build a casino."

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Seems it's business as usual in Washington.

Lobbyists Foresee Business As Usual
Post-Abramoff Rules Expected to Be Merely a Nuisance

By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 19, 2006; Page A01

Some of Washington's top lobbyists say that they expect to find ways around congressional efforts to impose new restrictions on lobbyists' dealings with lawmakers in the wake of the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal, and that any limits will barely put a dent in the billions of dollars spent to influence legislation.

Though Congress may ultimately vote to eliminate a few of the more visible trappings of special pleading, such as gifts, free meals and luxurious trips, lobbyists say they have already found scores of new ways to buy the attention of lawmakers through fundraising, charitable activities and industry-sponsored seminars. An estimated $10 billion is spent annually to influence legislation and regulations, and that spending is not likely to be diminished by the proposed lobbying changes, these lobbyists contend.

Special Report

Abramoff, the once-powerful lobbyist at the center of a wide-ranging public corruption investigation, pleaded guilty Jan. 3 to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in a deal that requires him to provide evidence about members of Congress.

Abramoff Pleads Guilty (Jan. 4, 2006)
Fast Rise, Steep Fall (Dec. 29, 2005)
Stacking the Deck (Oct. 16, 2005)

Investigating Abramoff -- Special Report

Judge Refuses to Delay Abramoff Sentencing
Travel Agency Subpoenaed for DeLay Records

"I wouldn't classify those changes as major," said Dan Danner, executive vice president of the National Federation of Independent Business. "Between charitable events and fundraising events, there will still be lots of ways to get in front of members [of Congress]."

Abramoff's guilty plea in January -- to charges of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials with lavish trips, luxury skybox fundraisers, meals and campaign contributions -- triggered a new push in Congress to rewrite the rules governing lobbying.

An emerging Senate bill, which has yet to be completed, would bar lawmakers from accepting meals and gifts such as sports tickets from registered lobbyists. The leading House measure, which has been proposed by GOP leaders, would rely more heavily on additional disclosures but would also impose a temporary ban on privately paid travel.

But many lobbyists said they consider these bills more of a nuisance than an impediment to their ability to work their will.

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Cycloptichorn wrote:

They don't want to believe, CI. Noone wants to admit to themselves that they were mislead and bamboozled by a clown like Bush.

Not only that, but the polarizing politics they have employed have been furthered to the point where admitting that BushCo. is wrong on one issue, opens up the door to admitting they are wrong on a lot of issues; something your average Conservative doesn't want to do in our political climate.

Cycloptichorn

Well you have to take into acount that conservatives are emotional cripples in the first place, their entire make-up is melded into these authoritarian might makes right policies. They can't admit they are wrong.

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http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000146.php

Quote:

Three MZM Staff Worked on White House Intel Panel

By Justin Rood - March 21, 2006, 11:57 AM

Here's another strange tie between Mitchell Wade's MZM Inc. and the Bush White House.

At least three men who have been identified as MZM employees worked as professional staff for the Robb-Silberman Commission, the White House panel which investigated the shortcomings of U.S. pre-war intelligence.

Who were the men? First, retired Lt. Gen. James C. King, who joined MZM after leaving his post as chief of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency in 2001. The report by the panel -- officially known as The Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction -- lists him as an "Intelligence Professional" on its staff.

Then there's John J. Quattrocki, a former high-ranking FBI officer, who was identified by the Washington Post on Monday as an MZM employee. He is listed on the panel's staff as an Intelligence Professional in the report, also.

Third, Kenneth M. Geide is identified on unclassified government documents we've obtained as an MZM "Senior National Security Advisor." The White House panel's report also lists him as an "Intelligence Professional" on its staff.

Wade, of course, has pleaded guilty to several felony counts of bribery and corruption in connection with the Randy "Duke" Cunningham scandal.

Among other recommendations, the Robb-Silberman Commission urged the adminstration to expand the powers of the Pentagon's Counterintelligence Field Activities office (CIFA), where MZM held multi-million dollar contracts. In fact, MZM's King consulted for the Pentagon in 2002 on the creation of CIFA.

The dates of the commission make an interesting addition to the MZM-White House timeline:

February 2004: Bush announces Robb-Silberman commission to investigate WMD intelligence, including what is known about Iran and North Korea. Presumeably, staff are hired in the following months.
April 2004: Mitchell Wade incorporates the Iranian Democratization Foundation.
June-Sept. 2004: Wade's MZM gets three contracts through the Executive Office of the President for "intelligence services."
March 2005: Robb-Silberman commission releases report and recommendations.

Were the three White House contracts with MZM to pay for the work of those three men? Was MZM doing other intelligence work for President Bush while its associates worked with the commission? Or is this all mere coincidence?

I doubt it is all a coincidence.

TPM is doing a great job digging up the links here; the connections between Abramoff and the WH are many, between every one of the top Republicans. Hell, it's to be expected; they work together, scratch each other's back.

Cycloptichorn

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Got off cheap, but he was a "protected" witness for the prosecution.

Lobbyist Abramoff gets 70 months
Disgraced former US lobbyist Jack Abramoff has been jailed for nearly six years for conspiracy and fraud.
Abramoff - who had close links to top Republicans - had pleaded guilty to the charges, which relate to the purchase of a fleet of casino boats in 2000.

In a separate case, he has admitted to tax evasion, defrauding his clients and conspiring to bribe public officials.

An ongoing federal inquiry is said to be focusing on his dealings with up to 20 politicians in Congress.

The case has sent shockwaves through Washington's political establishment, the BBC's Jonathan Beale in Miami says.

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babysteps in the right direction

Forbes link

Quote:

Assuring the judge he is working to become "a new man," disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced Wednesday to nearly six years in prison for committing fraud in the purchase of a fleet of gambling boats.

He will remain free while helping prosecutors with a vast bribery investigation involving members of Congress.

Abramoff, 47, and former business partner Adam Kidan, 41, received the minimum under federal guidelines: five years and 10 months.

The two pleaded guilty earlier to conspiracy and fraud for concocting a fake $23 million wire transfer to make it appear they were contributing their own money toward the purchase of the $147.5 million SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet. Based on that fraudulent transfer, lenders provided the pair with $60 million in financing.

Quote:

He and Kidan were also ordered to pay restitution of more than $21 million. Both must serve three years' probation after they get out of prison.

Abramoff pleaded guilty in the SunCruz fraud in January. The same week, he pleaded guilty in Washington to defrauding Indian tribes and other lobbying clients out of millions of dollars. He also agreed to cooperate in a corruption probe that could involve up to 20 members of Congress, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas. No date has been set for his sentencing in that case.

The judge said Abramoff and Kidan will not have to report to prison for at least 90 days so they can continue cooperating with investigators in the corruption case and the slaying of former SunCruz owner Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis.

Quote:

If prosecutors are satisfied with their cooperation in those cases, the two men's sentences could be reduced.

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saw feingold on c-span this am. he was pointing out how the proposed reform bill leaves loopholes for politicians to continue receiving freebies.

according to his statement, while the lobbyist would no longer be able to pick up the tab for things, an employee of the company or group that he is representing would be allowed to.

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Congress is still back-peddling. I hope all of them gets kicked out during the next election cycle. Most of them are scums.

March 30, 2006
Senate Approves Lobbying Limits by Wide Margin

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cicerone imposter wrote:

Congress is still back-peddling. I hope all of them gets kicked out during the next election cycle. Most of them are scums.

Quote:
Ms. Collins said Wednesday that she was disappointed.

"The public," she said, "does not trust a system where we set our own rules, we're our own advisers, we're our own investigators, we're our own prosecutors, we're our own judges, and we're our own jurors."

yep. that about covers it.

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Quote:

Well you have to take into acount that conservatives are emotional cripples in the first place

I thought liberals were opposed to name calling,and that they loved and accepted everyone,exactly as they are.

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mysteryman wrote:

Quote:
Well you have to take into acount that conservatives are emotional cripples in the first place

I thought liberals were opposed to name calling,and that they loved and accepted everyone,exactly as they are.

Just because someone is an emotional cripple doesn't mean we don't love them. :wink:

We love you MM.. we really do.. Laughing

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Ex-DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/31/politics/main1459542.shtml

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March 31, 2006

Op-Ed Contributor
Jack's House
By HART SEELY

These are the men
That fleeced the tribes
That paid the money
That made the bribes
That purchased the Congress that
Jack built.

This is the Duke
That sailed the yacht
That raised the eyebrows
And got him caught,
Who helped Mitch Wade,
Who bought Duke's land
And kicked in 700 grand;
Which raised Duke's taxes,
And gave Duke pain;
So Wade paid the tab
On Duke's capital gain.
Bigger than Abscam:
Randy "Duke" Cunningham!
Top gun in the Congress that
Jack built.

This is Bob Ney,
Who knew the fine print
That could pass a casino
And rev up its mint,
Who spawned the e-mail
Where Jack foretold:
"Just met with Ney.
"We're [expletive] gold!"
And Ney in 2000,
A moment quite checkered
Ripped magnate Gus Boulis
In the Congress'nal Record.
His tirade was meant
To frighten the fellow,
Who cops say was shot
By Big Tony Moscatiello,
Who got a small fortune
From Jack's pal in D.C.,
A guy Ney said was known
For his "honesty."
Their pal was indicted
And then copped a plea
Guilty of fraud
And conspiracy.
For creating the vibes
That condoned the bribes
That corrupted the Congress that
Jack built.

This is DeLay,
Who built the machine
That redrew the districts
And raised the green,
That decided the races
That claimed the new seats,
That made the new friends
That owned luxury suites,
That held big galas
That brought the donations
That helped him to greet
The great Coushatta Nation!
With 800 members
And fund-stream support
From the famous Coushatta Casino Resort!
Which paid several million
For Jack to abort
A rival tribe's parlor
In nearby Shreveport,
Which prompted the letter
That outlined their claims
That went to Gale Norton,
Co-signed by these names:
Tom DeLay, Eric Cantor,
Roy Blunt, the chief whip,
Speaker Dennis Hastert.
That's the House leadership!
That played the game
And wears the shame
That hangs over the Congress that
Jack built.

This is the Jack,
Jack Abramoff,
Who bought the souls,
Then sold them off,
Who shook the hands
And financed the houses
And feted the staffs,
And hired the spouses,
And fleeced the tribes
And spread the bribes
That ransomed the Congress that
Jack built.

Hart Seely is the editor of "Pieces of Intelligence: The Existential Poetry of Donald H. Rumsfeld."

* Copyright 2006The New York Times Company

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From blueflame's link:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ex-DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2006
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(CBS/AP) A former top aide to Rep. Tom DeLay pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy and promised to cooperate with the government's investigation of lobbying fraud.

Tony Rudy, DeLay's former deputy chief of staff, was told by a U.S. District judge that he could receive up to five years in prison but the sentence could be much less depending on his cooperation with prosecutors in the case, which earlier brought a guilty plea from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Rudy is the second former aide to DeLay to plead guilty in the scandal.

As part of the deal for Rudy to plead guilty to the single felony conspiracy count, prosecutors agreed not pursue other possible charges against him or his wife.

Rudy, 39, stood with his head slightly bowed and his hands clasped in front of him as the judge detailed how he took free trips, tickets, meals and golf games from Abramoff while working for DeLay, who was then House Majority Leader.

Rudy and his lawyer left the courthouse by a side door, declining to talk to reporters.

The republican house of cards is beginning to crumble.

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I remember some news on tv last year where DeLay claimed he was innocent of any wrongdoing. Haven't heard him lately, so the big 64 million question is, is he involved?

Guilty plea in US bribery probe
An ex-aide to a top Republican lawmaker has pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a corruption case that has rattled the US political establishment.
Tony Rudy, ex-deputy chief-of-staff of former House Majority leader Tom DeLay, admitted to conspiring in a federal court in Washington.

Mr Rudy also promised to co-operate with an ongoing enquiry focusing on dealings of several top US politicians.

At the heart of the case is convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Abramoff - who was convicted earlier this week to 70 months in jail in a separate fraud case - has been co-operating in the federal enquiry.

Golf trip

Mr Rudy, 39, entered the guilty plea on one count of conspiracy.

He admitted to conspiring with Abramoff in influencing members of Congress both while working for Mr DeLay in 1995-2000 and after leaving the office.

As Mr DeLay's aide, Mr Rudy took payments from Abramoff in 2000 and also helped in stopping an internet-gambling bill opposed to Abramoff's clients, according to court papers.

After leaving Mr DeLay's office and becoming a lobbyist himself, he was involved in arranging an overseas golf trip for a Republican congressman, identified as Representative 1.

Mr Rudy faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a big fine.

But under the co-operation agreement, he is expected to be sentenced to lesser term.

Lavish meals

On Wednesday, Abramoff was given five years and 10 months in jail for conspiracy and fraud in the case relating to the purchase of the SunCruz Casinos gambling fleet in Florida in 2000.

But Abramoff - along with his convicted co-defendant Adam Kidan - do not have to begin serving their sentences for another 90 days in order to be able to continue co-operating in the Washington corruption case.

In January, Abramoff also pleaded guilty to defrauding the Native American tribes that were his clients, to tax evasion and to conspiring to bribe public officials.

The wide-ranging federal inquiry began in 2004 after reports that he and business partner Michael Scanlon had received some $45m (£26m) from Native American tribes with casinos.

Abramoff was accused of exploiting the tribes to enrich himself and his friends, and offering politicians in both houses of Congress lavish meals, tickets to major sporting events and trips.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4866964.stm

Published: 2006/04/01 00:03:52 GMT

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parados wrote:

mysteryman wrote:
Quote:
Well you have to take into acount that conservatives are emotional cripples in the first place

I thought liberals were opposed to name calling,and that they loved and accepted everyone,exactly as they are.

Just because someone is an emotional cripple doesn't mean we don't love them. :wink:

We love you MM.. we really do..

We love everyone even the emotionally broken right-wingers, we wish they would all get help instead of remaining in a permanent state of cognitive dissonance.

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Roxxxanne, "Cognitive dissonance" is a good word; one that I haven't heard in a long time.

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TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Ex-DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty in Lobby Case
Tony C. Rudy, a former deputy chief of staff to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), pleaded guilty yesterday to charges that he conspired with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff to corrupt public officials and defraud his clients, as a burgeoning corruption probe took one step closer to members of Congress.
(By Jonathan Weisman and Thomas B. Edsall, The Washington Post)

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DeLay is laying low, because he's running a re-election campaign.

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The Abramoff scandal investigation

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