In the first of a series of competing packages of legislation, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert called for a ban on Congressional travel underwritten by outside groups, tougher restrictions on gifts and favors and the elimination of privileges for lawmakers turned lobbyists in response to three bribery and corruption convictions that have reached into the House. Inquiries related to those criminal acts are continuing.
Congressional Democrats plan to issue their own overhaul plan Wednesday, and Senate Republicans are preparing one as well in a game of one-upsmanship touched off by guilty pleas to corruption charges by the high-powered lobbyist Jack Abramoff and an associate and a House Republican's admission to taking bribes.
The House and Senate are responsible for setting the rules that apply to each chamber, but in the past have enacted these types of reforms through a combination of rules changes and legislation to give them the force of law.
Past furors like the House Post Office scandal and sensational revelations about lobbyist paid travel, suspect book deals and speaking fees have sparked previous rounds of reform. But they are often undone by lack of staff members to police them and have been riddled with loopholes that allow lawmakers and lobbyists alike to find ways around them. Some fear that could be the case this time if Congress is not vigilant.
Though the plans differ, all take aim at the opportunities available to lobbyists to provide lawmakers with benefits like luxury travel, expensive meals, scarce tickets to entertainment events, fund-raising help, contributions to pet causes and other little-scrutinized forms of financial and political support.
"I think members can probably function very well in this town without having to go out to lunch with a lobbyist or to dinner with a lobbyist," Mr. Hastert said. "They can pay for it for themselves."
Democrats plan to push ahead with their own proposals, saying they are skeptical that the Republicans who control the House and Senate will be able to clean up a system they have presided over.
"It is like asking John Gotti to do what he can to clean up organized crime," said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader.
Like the other plans, the overhaul by Congressional Democrats would double to two years the time before a former lawmaker or senior aide could lobby Congress. Congressional Democrats would institute new quarterly lobbying reports with extensive new requirements for disclosure. They would also prohibit lawmakers and aides from pressing private entities to make employment decisions on the basis of political affiliation, a provision aimed at the Republican K Street push to force the hiring of Republicans by lobbying firms and trade associations. Senate Republicans are drafting a plan that, according to a party memorandum, would end travel subsidized by outside groups, ban gifts, reduce the ability of senators to stall legislation and nominations anonymously through "holds" and prohibit spouses and relatives of senators from lobbying the Senate. The last has become a growing practice in recent years.
Advocates of tighter rules say the frenzied approach to overhauling the rules could produce real changes in the way lawmakers and lobbyists interact if Congress follows through.
"If you want to be serious about it, there has to be some enforcement mechanism," said Roberta Baskin, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit group that tracks money in politics.
Some leading lobbyists, however, say Congress is in danger of going overboard and could cut off the ability of the public to advocate on Capitol Hill.
"We cannot lose sight of the fact that we have had one lawmaker and two lobbyists plead guilty," said Robert Livingston, a former House Appropriations Committee chairman who is now a Washington lobbyist. "The fact is, we have reformed campaign finance at least four times since 1974, and each time it has gotten progressively worse. I am worried we are going to do the same to lobbying."
Should Congress agree on a lobbying package this year, it would be the first extensive revision since a 1995 measure limiting gifts and requiring new lobbying disclosure.
Mr. Hastert and others acknowledged Tuesday, however, that it would not be easy to enact such legislation. He and others said that scores of House Republicans who participated in a 90-minute conference call Tuesday expressed misgivings about various elements of the House Republican approach, including the travel ban and the rights of former members.
In addition, House Republicans also intend to use the legislation to put new campaign spending and reporting restrictions on independent advocacy groups that have been seen as beneficial to Democrats, a move that could spark resistance.
"It's going to take some leadership and some pushing and pulling," Mr. Hastert said.
Representative John Shadegg of Arizona, a candidate for Republican majority leader, immediately objected to the travel ban, saying it could deprive members of crucial educational opportunities. The leadership position came open in part because of the links between Mr. Abramoff and Representative Tom DeLay of Texas.
Travel has become a chief focus since Mr. Abramoff was accused of using third-party groups to provide lavish trips for lawmakers, who said they were unaware that he had paid for the trips. Dozens of other lawmakers have had to file new disclosure reports to account for their journeys over the years while explaining the educational purposes of high-season trips to popular resorts.
Representative David Dreier, the California Republican who is the chairman of the Rules Committee and has been assembling the House plan, said he hoped to take a comprehensive proposal to the House floor by March.
But Mr. Dreier said the House would act as soon as it reconvenes Jan. 31 on a few elements of the plan, including provisions that would bar former lawmakers who are now registered lobbyists from being on the House floor or using a private gym where they have ready access to their old colleagues.
"We do know that members have raised concern about this issue," Mr. Dreier said.
Fred Wertheimer, president of the group Democracy 21 and a longtime advocate of tighter Congressional ethics rules, said he saw promise in the proposals, but he cautioned that the final judgment would await the details and the mechanisms to hold members accountable given a near collapse of the House ethics review.
"The real battle lies ahead," Mr. Wertheimer said, suggesting that Congress should consider a new professional office of public integrity to enforce the rules.
But Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and the author of his own Senate plan, said Tuesday that he did not want to see a new Congressional entity created. Greater disclosure, Mr. McCain said, could ultimately bring public and political pressure to bear.
"If there are issues, my initial response is, it could be taken care of by the ethics committees and/or the Justice Department, in case of criminal activities," he said.
The New York Times
Democrats Claim a Better Idea on
Controlling Lobbying
"Today we as Democrats are declaring our commitment to change, change to a government as good and as honest as the people that we serve," said Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader.
Surrounded by dozens of House and Senate colleagues in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress, Mr. Reid and fellow Democratic leaders blamed close ties between lobbyists and majority Republicans for health care, energy and other legislation that they called too friendly to industry at the expense of the public.
"The Republicans have turned Congress into an auction house, for sale to the highest bidder," said Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the House Democratic leader. "You have to pay to play. That's just not right."
The high profile that Democrats gave to unveiling their ethics plan made it clear that the party intended to turn its assertion of widespread Republican corruption into a theme in the fall midterm elections. It also showed that Democrats did not intend to strike a deal easily with Republicans on an ethics overhaul.
Republicans mounted a fierce counteroffensive. They recalled past Democratic resistance to proposed tightening of ethics rules, circulated Library of Congress regulations saying the library should not be used for political events and accused Mr. Reid of ties to the lobbyist Jack Abramoff and of using his Senate office to prepare political documents.
"Does Mr. Reid think that using an official government office for political purposes is ethical?" asked Brian Nick, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Representative John A. Boehner, Republican of Ohio and a candidate for House majority leader, said Republican misconduct was nowhere near the level engaged in by Democrats when they ruled the House before being swept out in 1994.
"When I hear Democratic Party leaders throwing around terms like 'culture of corruption,' I have to think, You oughta know," he said in a statement.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee distributed a 24-page report on what it said was Mr. Reid's hypocrisy on lobbying and special interests and noted that a former aide to Mr. Reid had joined a law firm with Mr. Abramoff, whose guilty plea to corruption charges this month sparked the drive for new lobbying rules. Mr. Reid and his allies dismissed the claims as political spin, with Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, saying, "Jack Abramoff is a Republican scandal and a Republican crisis."
In a scene reminiscent of the signing of the Contract With America, which Republicans promoted in their election campaign for a majority a decade ago, Democratic leaders concluded their rally by signing what they called the "Democratic Declaration of Honest Leadership and Open Government."
Democrats said that in contrast to the Republican approach, their proposal would end a Republican practice of pressuring lobbying firms and advocacy groups to hire on the basis of party affiliation.
It would also require lawmakers and senior officials to disclose when they were negotiating for jobs as they prepared to leave Congress, a proposal tied to the fact that a legislative author of the Medicare drug bill later became head of the drug industry lobbying arm. It would ban gifts to lawmakers from lobbyists.
Democrats stopped short of an outright ban on travel paid for by outside groups. They would allow educational nonprofit groups to underwrite trips for lawmakers and senior aides. Though the details of the competing plans remain uncertain, Republicans have indicated they would ban all travel paid for by private organizations.
Congressional aides said that House Democratic leaders were ready to jettison travel completely but ran into resistance from Senate Democrats who wanted to retain the ability to go on trips sponsored by educational foundations.
According to aides preparing the bill, Democrats would also put new disclosure rules on travel aboard private aircraft but would not take the step sought by some lawmakers to require members of Congress to pay the actual costs of such trips rather than reimbursing flight providers for the equivalent of first-class air fare.
Ethics watchdogs commended the Democratic effort but continued to raise doubts about the ability to hold lawmakers accountable to any new standards. "Both of the parties' proposals fail to get at the heart of the problem, which is a complete lack of enforcement of the rules in Congress," said Chellie Pingree, president of Common Cause.
Some lawmakers said they thought Congress was overreacting to the lobbying scandal with an excess of new rules and requirements.
"Now we're going to say you can't have a meal for more than 20 bucks," said Senator Trent Lott, Republican of Mississippi. "Where are you going, to McDonald's?"
Washington Gearing up for Lobbying Reform
VOICE OF AMERICA
Washington, D.C.
18 January 2006
The U.S. Congress is seeking to reform the nation's lobbying laws in the wake of a Capitol Hill influence peddling scandal that has already led to a guilty plea by once powerful lobbyist Jack Abramoff and may lead to corruption charges against several lawmakers.
Lobbying is a Business
 |
| K Street Washington D.C. |
K Street in downtown Washington is sometimes referred to as America's fourth branch of government, because the headquarters of the nation's most influential lobbying firms are located here. Rent is expensive and the lobbyists themselves are well paid. Their fees represent a portion of the two billion dollars spent each year by the lobbying industry.
Alex Knott of the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington watchdog group, says those who pay the expenses consider it money well spent. "It works like a PR campaign, even if they don't get any legislative action. Let's take
 |
| Alex Knott of the Center for Public Integrity |
Lockheed Martin (Aerospace Company), for instance, said Alex Knott. They've spent 54 million dollars since 1998. Meanwhile, just from the Department of Defense, between 1998 and 2003, they've received 94 billion dollars -- 74 percent of which were no-bid contracts. That goes a long way. Basically it equates to being pennies on the dollar."
Lobbyists represent a very broad spectrum of legitimate interests, from defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin to teachers and even beekeepers. They are hired for their ability to meet and persuade government officials to pass laws, award contracts or reduce certain kinds of taxes on behalf of their clients.
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff, however, admitted to not only to bribing public officials, but also defrauding his own clients, American Indian tribes who hired him to protect their interests in casino gambling. Abramoff even represented different tribes who competed for the same business.
Fred Wertheimer, President of Democracy 21, an organization that promotes civic values, says such scandals are periodic occurrences in America. "When that happens, it's extremely important that those people are held accountable, that you get a new set of rules to address the problems, said Fred Wertheimer. When we do that, we bring the problems under control. But then the cycle begins again. People try to press the envelope, see how far they can go."
Reform Proposals
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| Jack Abramoff, lobbyst indicted for bribery |
There are several reform proposals from both parties in Congress that address lobbying violations exposed by the Abramoff scandal. The reforms would mandate timely disclosure of contacts between lobbyists and public officials, ban congressional trips paid for by lobbyists and lengthen the time former members of Congress must wait before becoming lobbyists themselves.
The U.S. Constitution protects the fundamental right of companies and individuals alike to assemble as they wish and, in the words of the First Amendment, "to petition the government for redress of grievances," in other words, to lobby.
David Boze, Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute think tank in Washington, says lobbying gives the public a voice in the decisions of government. "But what it turns into when you have a government that puts three trillion dollars on the plate, it turns into a mad scramble for that money, said David Boze. So most organizations in Washington; you walk down K Street, and look at the names of the lobbies. Most of those people are here not because they want a redress of their grievances, but because they want a piece of the pie."
Mr. Boze notes that unscrupulous lobbyists use any means necessary to get more than they deserve.
Government Promises Swift Action Against Corruption
 |
| Alice Fisher, U.S. Deputy Attorney General |
This includes bribery, which implicates government officials who take them. "Government officials and government action are not for sale", said Alice Fisher, the U.S. Deputy Attorney General, and added that the Justice Department will aggressively investigate and prosecute cases like Abramoff's, which have a devastating impact on the public's trust in government. "We will not shy away from that responsibility no matter where the trail leads, said Alice Fisher.
That trail is expected to lead to Congress. Jack Abramoff, in a deal with prosecutors to get a reduced sentence, is likely to point out lawmakers who accepted his bribes.
Fred Wertheimer says Washington corruption scandals usually affect the majority party. "That doesn't mean there are no efforts to influence the minority parties, but the principle efforts almost always involve the party in power, the party or the individuals from that party who can deliver results, says Wertheimer.
Today, that means the Republican Party. In the 1980s, it was the Democrats in Congress. Several were arrested after they accepted bribes from FBI agents posing as Arab oil sheikhs.
The Cato Institute's David Boze says honest lawmakers are those who come to Washington to serve the people or to advance a specific idea. He says those who fall victim to material temptations lack the strength to do what is right. "It's moral weakness, but it's also specifically philosophical weakness. If you're not here for any particular purpose, then you're going to find yourself very comfortable taking dinners from lobbyists, said David Boze.
 |
| Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21 |
Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21 says it is human nature to take advantage of any system, but that voluntary respect for the law as well as strong enforcement are the best ways to keep corruption to a minimum. "Another key to complying with rules is an understanding that the rules are going to be applied to everyone in the same way; that there is not one set of rules for the powerful and the wealthy, and another set of rules for everyone else, said Fred Wertheimer.
Jack Abramoff and those he allegedly bribed are not the first, nor are they likely to be the last, corrupt individuals in Washington. Having pleaded guilty, Abramoff will be sentenced to considerable time in jail. If prosecutors find corroborating evidence against any politicians he names, they too could lose the freedom and power they once enjoyed.
This story was first broadcast on the English news program,VOA News
CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO REFORM DEBATE IN
U.S. CONGRESS By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG By CARL HULSE By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS By ANNE E. KORNBLUT For the American Indian community, the administration and
the Congress, the Jack Abramoff scandal raises deeper issues than one bad
lobbyist. Here are some proposals for what this tarred and anxious
Congress should do to reform its culture. By FRANK RICH By ANNE E. KORNBLUT and GLEN JUSTICE By TODD S. PURDUM By CARL HULSE It was a measure of the failure of Congressional
leadership on both sides of the aisle that Newt Gingrich, the disgraced
former speaker, lectured House Republicans on the siren lure of lobbyists. By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG By CARL HULSE By MICHAEL WALDMAN By ANNE E. KORNBLUT and ABBY GOODNOUGH The big question in the scandal involving Jack Abramoff
is how aggressively the Justice Department will pursue a case that could
ensnare prominent Republicans. By ANA MARIE COX By DAVID BROOKS By CARL HULSE and ADAM NAGOURNEY By ANNE E. KORNBLUT; ERIC LICHTBLAU and CARL HULSE
CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG; CARL HULSE CONTRIBUTED
REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. By MAUREEN DOWD By PHILIP SHENON By ANNE E. KORNBLUT By ANNE E. KORNBLUT Montana Sen Max Baucus is returning $18,892 in
contributions that his office has found to be connected to Jack Abramoff,
indicted lobbyist; Montana's other members of Congress, Sen Conrad Burns
and Rep Denny Rehberg returned their contributions last week
By PAUL KRUGMAN By PHILIP SHENON By ANNE E. KORNBLUT and PHILIP SHENON By ABBY GOODNOUGH; ANNE E. KORNBLUT CONTRIBUTED
REPORTING FROM WASHINGTON FOR THIS ARTICLE. By PHILIP SHENON AUSTIN, Tex., Dec. 1 (AP) - Three Texas watchdog
groups asked a county official here Thursday to investigate Ralph Reed,
former executive director of the Christian Coalition, who worked with
the lobbyist Jack Abramoff to press state officials to shut down two
Texas tribal casinos that were rivals of Abramoff clients. By ANNE E. KORNBLUT As Congress mulls over the larger lessons of
Representative Randy Cunningham' s demise, it should look to repair its
ethics process, which now stands as a scandal unto itself. Michael Scanlon has agreed to cooperate in a fraud
case involving the Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff' s purchase of a
fleet of gambling boats. By CARL HULSE It' s too bad that the inquiry into the bilking of
Indian casino tribes stopped short of looking into the quid-pro-quo
temptations among lawmakers. By PHILIP SHENON Correction of Nov 18 Op-Ed subheading, which gave
date of Cape Ann earthquake as 1855; it was 1755; Nov 16 editorial on
Jack Abramoff misstated name of president of Gabon in one reference; it
is Pres Bongo, not Pres Gabon By ANNE E. KORNBLUT; PHILIP SHENON, ERIC LICHTBLAU
and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. By ANNE E. KORNBLUT The largely uncontrolled lobbying world of Washington
deserves all the attention it is getting by way of Jack Abramoff, the
indicted Republican superlobbyist. By PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON By ANNE E. KORNBLUT By ERIC LICHTBLAU By PHILIP SHENON; GLEN JUSTICE CONTRIBUTED
REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. By MATTHEW CONTINETTI By ROBIN TONER By PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON By PAUL KRUGMAN By FRANK RICH By ERIC LICHTBLAU By PHILIP SHENON and ANNE E. KORNBLUT By PHILIP SHENON and ANNE E. KORNBLUT; ROBERT PEAR
CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. By PHILIP SHENON By GLEN JUSTICE; ANNE E. KORNBLUT, PHILIP SHENON
and BARCLAY WALSH CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. By PHILIP SHENON By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG By ANNE E. KORNBLUT By ANNE E. KORNBLUT and PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON By PAUL KRUGMAN By FOX BUTTERFIELD By PHILIP SHENON By KATE ZERNIKE and ANNE E. KORNBLUT By PHILIP SHENON By PHILIP SHENON and ANNE E. KORNBLUT By BY JAMES BROOKE and KATE ZERNIKE; BROOK REPORTED
FROM SAIPAN FOR THIS ARTICLE, and KATE ZERNIKE FROM WASHINGTON. By KATE ZERNIKE and PHILIP SHENON; JAMES BROOKE
CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FROM SAIPAN FOR THIS ARTICLE. By MICHAEL CROWLEY By ANNE E. KORNBLUT and PHILIP SHENON By KATE ZERNIKE By CARL HULSE and PHILIP SHENON By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and PHILIP SHENON; DAVID
D. KIRKPATRICK REPORTED FROM ATLANTA FOR THIS ARTICLE, and PHILIP
SHENON FROM WASHINGTON. By FRANK RICH The influence industry in Congress is multiplying
so fast that no one really knows how many lobbyists are at work
these days. By PHILIP SHENON By DAVID BROOKS; PAUL KRUGMAN IS ON VACATION. The lack of an honest, unhindered ethics
investigation process in the House may come back to haunt its
leading Republicans. Investigators in the Senate and the Justice
Department are following the tracks of Jack Abramoff, a
smooth-talking lobbyist who may have gleaned $80 million from Indian
casino tribes. The gulling of the casino tribes is a blot on
Congress and the lobbying industry that cries out for a thorough
public vetting. By MICHAEL JANOFSKY; KRISTEN LEE CONTRIBUTED
REPORTING FOR THIS ARTICLE. By DAVID E. ROSENBAUM
News about Jack Abramoff
(including commentary and archival articles
published in The New York Times)
Push to Control Lobbying Produces Unexpected Shifts
and Alliances
The effort to revamp lobbying laws in Washington has gathered steam since
Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist, pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud.
Two Parties Rush to OfferProposals to Curb Lobbying
Democrats will issue their proposal today after the Republicans called for
tougher restrictions on gifts and favors.
House GOP Leaders Unveil New Ethics Plan
The changes would include the banning of privately sponsored travel like
that arranged by convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Spotlight on Lobbying Swings to Little-Known
Congressman
Bob Ney of Ohio, known as the Mayor of Capitol Hill, is in jeopardy of being
indicted, according to people involved in the case.
Abramoff Effect: The Smell of Casino Money
Abramoff Effect: Leaping Out of Bed With the Lobbyists
Is Abramoff the New Monica?
The Jack Abramoff scandal may metastasize from a cancer on Congress to a
cancer on the Republican Party in general and this presidency in particular.
Inquiry Focusing on Second Firm With Close Connections
to DeLay
Having secured a guilty plea from Jack Abramoff, prosecutors are focusing on
a lobbying firm that may determine whether Tom DeLay will face criminal
charges.
THE NATION; Go Ahead, Try to Stop K Street
The astounding growth of the lobbying industry has tracked the growth of the
federal government itself.
Rebels in G.O.P. Call for DeLay To Be Replaced
A band of House Republicans moved to bar Representative Tom DeLay from
regaining his position as majority leader.
Newt as Diogenes in a Dark Capitol
Lobbyist's Downfall Leads to Charities' Windfall
Thousands of dollars in donations from Jack Abramoff are being returned or
redirected to charities with Native American ties.
Abramoff Conviction Gives New Impetus to Moves in
Congress to Toughen Curbs on Lobbying
Both parties prepared to roll out lobbying reform proposals after Jack
Abramoff' s guilty plea to public corruption charges.
The End Of Influence
History shows howwe can end thepay-for-policy cycle.
Bush and Others Shed Donations Tied to Lobbyist
President Bush and senior Republican lawmakers moved to dump thousands of
dollars in campaign donations from Jack Abramoff.
From Backslapper to Back Stabber
Political Theater of the Absurd
It' s difficult to see the Jack Abramoff scandal ending with the
satisfying clink of handcuffs.
Saving The House
If Republicans want to emerge from the Jack Abramoff affair with their
electoral prospects intact, they need to get in front of it with a
comprehensive reform offensive.
Lobbyist's Guilty Plea Seen As Threat to DeLay
Return
Representative Tom DeLay' s return as majority leader was dashed when Jack
Abramoff pleaded guilty to corruption.
THE ABRAMOFF CASE: THE OVERVIEW; LOBBYIST ACCEPTS
PLEA DEAL AND BECOMES STAR WITNESS IN A WIDER CORRUPTION CASE
Jack Abramoff instantly became the star witness in a sweeping federal
investigation into public corruption.
THE ABRAMOFF CASE: NEWS ANALYSIS; Tremors Across the
Capital
Jack Abramoff' s plea deal has thrust him into the role of a corporate
insider turning against the company.
It's Not Personal, Jack, It's Strictly Business
Just because this is a scale of amorality and blatant sale of government
that astonishes even Washington cynics, why look on the dark side?
On Opinion Page, Lobby's Hand Is Often Unseen
Organizations like the Institute for Policy Innovation are facing new and
uncomfortable scrutiny over their links to special interest groups.
Lobbyist Nears Terms On Plea Deal
Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under indictment for fraud in South
Florida, is expected to complete a plea agreement in the Miami criminal
case.
Lobbyist Is Said To Discuss Plea And Testimony
The deal would grant Jack Abramoff a shorter sentence in exchange for his
testimony against former political associates.
National Briefing | Washington: Returning Money Tied
To Lobbyist
Tankers On The Take
How many others are being paid for punditry? Or has the culture of
corruption spread so far that the question is, Who isn' t?
In Congress, a Lobbyist's Legal Troubles Turn His
Generosity Into a Burden
Money from lobbyist Jack Abramoff was eagerly accepted by members of
Congress until this year. Now lawmakers are beginning to return the funds.
Columnist Resigns His Post, Admitting Lobbyist Paid
Him
A scholar at the Cato Institute admitted he was paid by Jack Abramoff in
exchange for writing columns favorable to his clients.
Casino Partner Pleads Guilty In Fraud Case
Adam Kidan was a former business partner of Jack Abramoff, the former
Washington lobbyist at the center of a sweeping corruption investigation.
In Messages, Lobbyist Says DeLay Pressed for
Donation
The three-year-old messages suggest that lobbyist Jack Abramoff passed
the request on to an Indian tribe for payment within hours.
Ethics Complaint On Ralph Reed
Lobbyist's Role In Hiring Aides Is Investigated
Prosecutors are examining whether Jack Abramoff brokered lucrative jobs
for Congressional aides at lobbying firms.
The Duke Shames the Capitol
Former Aide to DeLay Is to Help in Fraud Case
Against Lobbyist
Congressional Memo; Political Donations, Bribery
and the Portrayal of a Nexus
Federal prosecutors are arguing that campaign dollars showered on
lawmakers by those with legislative interests can reach the level of
criminal misconduct.
Six Degrees of Jack Abramoff
Former Top Aide to DeLay Pleads Guilty to
Conspiracy
Michael Scanlon acknowledged that he and the lobbyist Jack Abramoff
agreed to make lavish gifts to public officials.
CORRECTION
DeLay Ex-Aide To Plead Guilty In Lobby Case
Michael Scanlon' s deal reveals a broadening corruption investigation
involving top members of Congress.
Friend of Abramoff Testifies on Their Ties
Investigators are considering whether the friend and lobbyist Jack
Abramoff misled Indian tribes about the use of their donations.
The Links of Influence Peddling
Democrats Seek Documents on Lobbyist and Bush
Meeting
House Democratic leaders want to know if a powerful Republican lobbyist
had a role in arranging an Oval Office meeting.
Lobbyist Sought $9 Million to Set Bush Meeting
Jack Abramoff, once one of most powerful lobbyists in Washington, asked
Pres Omar Bongo of Gabon for $9 million in 2003 to arrange meeting with
Pres Bush, and directed that fee be paid to GrassRoots Interactive,
Maryland company now under federal scrutiny; Bongo met with Bush in Oval
Office 10 months later in visit that White House and State Dept describe
as routine; government of Gabon is regularly accused by US of human
rights abuses; there is no evidence in public record that Abramoff
played any role in organizing meeting or received any money or signed
contract with Gabon; his offering letter is released by Senate Indian
Affairs Committee, which has conducted yearlong investigation of his
lobbying for Indian tribes; Abramoff's three-page letter to Bongo
suggested he had unusual influence to arrange meeting with Bush; photo
Congressman Subpoenaed in Inquiry
Representative Bob Ney was subpoenaed this week for documents and
testimony in the federal corruption investigation of the Republican
lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
DeLay Asked Lobbyist to Raise Money Through
Charity
The unusual request led the lobbyist Jack Abramoff to try to gather at
least $150,000 from his Indian tribe clients, according to newly
disclosed e-mail.
Ex-Interior Deputy Testifies Lobbyist Offered
Him Job
The former No. 2 official at the Interior Department acknowledged that
he had received a job offer while at the department from the lobbyist
Jack Abramoff.
Inquiry on Lobbyist Widens to Senior Officials;
Senate Hearing Is Today
The investigation into Jack Abramoff has expanded to include his
efforts to pressure Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton and other senior
Interior Department officials.
Name of a Top Rove Aide Appears in 2 of
Washington's High-Profile Investigations
Susan B. Ralston is a largely anonymousfigure known for fiercely
safeguarding her bosses, Karl Rove and Jack Abramoff.
President's Choice for No. 2 Position at Justice
Department Withdraws
Timothy Flanigan abruptly withdrew his nomination after facing weeks
of questions over his ties to the lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
First Charges Filed in Case On Lobbyist
The former head of procurement policy for the White House budget
office was indicted on charges of obstructing investigators and lying
about his ties to Jack Abramoff.
Contract Killers
How the G.O.P. got lost on its way to reform.
THE DELAY INQUIRY: THE CONTEXT; For Republicans,
a Swelling Sea of Troubles
Republicans are dealing with a string of ethical issues along with
Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and hopeful Democrats.
3 Arrested in Killing of Businessman With Whom
Abramoff Feuded
The 2001 gangland-style murder of a prominent Florida businessman
occurred in the midst of a bitter, well-publicized dispute with the
Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Demotion of a Prosecutor Is Investigated
The Justice Department' s inspector general and the F.B.I. are looking
into the demotion of a prosecutor whose reassignment shut down an
investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Find The Brownie
Something is rotten in the state of the U.S. government. And the
lesson of Hurricane Katrina is that a culture of cronyism and
corruption can have lethal consequences.
Bring Back Warren Harding
The mutant Enron version of the C.E.O. culture still rules in
Washington: uninhibited cronyism, special-favors networks, and the
banishment of accountability.
Democrats Press Justice Dept. Nominee Anew
Senate Democrats pressed for more answers from President Bush' s
nominee for deputy attorney general about his relationship with Jack
Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist.
Lawyer Sees Coercion In U.S. Arrest Of
Ex-Official
A lawyer accused the Justice Department of trying to coerce David H.
Safavian into cooperating with a criminal investigation of a
once-powerful Washington lobbyist.
Ex- White House Aide Charged in Corruption Case
A former White House budget official was charged with obstructing an
inquiry involving Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist.
U.S. FRAUD CHARGE FOR TOP LOBBYIST
Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist, was indicted on fraud charges
involving his purchase of a fleet of gambling boats.
For Lobbyist, a Seat of Power Came With a Plate
Jack Abramoff mixed business with business at Signatures, the upscale
restaurant he opened in Washington three years ago.
Justice Department Is Asked to Widen Inquiry
Into Lobbyist
The request about the investigation Jack Abramoff was made in a letter
from the Republican chairman and the senior Democrat on the House
Resources Committee.
THE NATION; Simplicity Takes a Star Turn in
Washington
The truth can be a rare commodity in Washington. Last week, an
outsider came to town to tell it.
Senators Hear of a Wink-Wink Lobbyist Move
Officials are investigating whether Jack Abramoff, a Republican
lobbyist, defrauded several Indian tribes while charging them more
than $80 million in fees and expenses.
Crucial Witnesses Are Set For Testimony on
Lobbyist
WASHINGTON, June 21 - Senator John McCain is calling several crucial
allies of the lobbyist Jack Abramoff to testify in a further hearing
on Wednesday about Mr. Abramoff' s business dealings with Indian
tribes.
Firm Says House Lawyers Approved Payments for
Trips
The assertion may bolster the argument of Representative Tom DeLay
that he did nothing wrong in accepting lavish trips organized by the
firm' s star lobbyist.
What's The Matter With Ohio?
The message from Ohio is that long-term dominance by a political
machine leads to corruption.
For a Tribe in Texas, an Era of Prosperity
Undone by Politics
The Tiguas' efforts to get their casino reopened got them caught up in
the spreading investigations involving the lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
House Ethics Chief Is Tied to Lobby Figures
Newly disclosed lobbying records show close links between Doc Hastings
and the firm at the center of Tom DeLay dispute.
Link to Lobbyist Brings Scrutiny to G.O.P.
Figure
Grover Norquist has had a hand in nearly every conservative cause in
Washington for nearly two decades.
Records of 2 Democrats Are Subpoenaed
The subpoena is a reminder that Jack Abramoff, best known for his ties
to powerful Republicans, also sought help from Democrats on behalf of
his lobbying clients.
Lobbyist Paid by Pakistan Led U.S. Delegation
There
Jack Abramoff led a Congressional delegation to Pakistan in 1997 but
failed to disclose that he was a registered lobbyist for the Pakistani
government.
In Pacific Islands, Mixed Feelings About the
Work of a Lobbyist
Some accuse Jack Abramoff of double-dealing the Marianas in the same
way he is now accused of defrauding Indian tribes.
Papers Show Lobbyist Paid for Congressional
Travel
Jack Abramoff, who is at the center of a corruption scandal,
submitted bills for more than $350,000 for several trips.
A Lobbyist in Full
Jack Abramoff is at the center of a Congressional controversy. But
as he sees it, he is simply very, very good at doing Washington' s
work.
Lawmaker Should Step Aside in DeLay Inquiry,
Groups Say
WASHINGTON, April 29 - Campaign watchdog groups said on Friday that
it would be inappropriate for Representative Melissa A. Hart to
oversee any potential inquiry of the House majority leader, Tom
DeLay, because she had received $15,000 from his political action
committee and held a fund-raiser at a restaurant owned by a
Republican lobbyist at the center of a growing corruption scandal.
Associate of Lobbyist Tied to DeLay Is
Questioned on Island Contracts
Government of Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands is unable to
determine what work was performed for $1.2 million contract awarded
in 1996 to David Lapin, rabbi associated with lobbyist Jack Abramoff;
no-bid contract to promote 'ethics in government' was one of several
totaling about $9 million give to Abramoff and his associates that
have provoked questions about lobbyist's activities in Northern
Mariana Islands; activities included 1998 trip arranged for Rep Tom
DeLay, who is facing ethics questions about his relationship with
Abramoff; audits in 2001 show that Marianas overpaid for eight years
of lobbying contracts with Abramoff, that he had been paid without
contract in some cases and that it had been difficult to justify his
hiring based on his work; photo
G.O.P. Seeks End To Ethics Clash; DeLay Is at
Issue
Democrats said the latest disclosures about Representative Tom DeLay'
s travel were another reason why the Republican majority should undo
changes in House ethics rules.
Ralph Reed's Zeal for Lobbying Is Shaking His
Political Faithful
The former head of the Christian Coalition finds himself carrying
some baggage: his ties to the Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Get Tom DeLay to the Church on Time
As the lies and subterfuge of the go-go 1990' s coalesced around
sex, so the scandal of our new " moral values" decade comes cloaked
in religion.
Congress's Deepening Shadow World
Inquiry on Lobbyist Casts a Shadow in Congress
Disclosures about Jack Abramoff' s lobbying activities have become
embarrassing to prominent members of Congress.
Masters of Sleaze
Jack Abramoff didn' t reach the highest order of sleaze on the
Indian-tribe gambling scene on his own. It took a village.
House Ethics in Deep Rough
Lobbyist as Snapping Turtle
Sleaze in the Capitol
Senate Opens Hearings on Lobbyists for Tribes
Congressional investigators say that two Washington insiders charged
six Indian tribes more than $66 million in less than four years for
minimal work.
At $500 an Hour, Lobbyist's Influence Rises
With G.O.P.
Jack Abramoff's success is a reminder that lobbying is more
profitable than ever.