WORLD EXCLUSIVE: THE LIB FOLLOWS THE MONEY
Embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty earlier today to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud. He also agreed to cooperate in an influence-peddling investigation that has many of the vilest, most powerful Republican members of Congress downing Maalox and powwowing with the Beltways top defense attorneys.
The alternative for the Republican super lobbyist, if you could call it that, was spending the best years of his corrupt, pampered life rotting in a federal prison. So as any one, even the President can see, that was no alternative.
In typical Republican fashion, Abramoff invoked the Lord’s name in his plea, hoping that he could “merit forgiveness from the Almighty and those I’ve wronged or caused to suffer.”
According to the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 9 1/2 to 11 years, providing he cooperates with federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging corruption investigation that is believed to be focusing on as many as 20 members of Congress and aides.
As to the financial aspect of Abramoff’s deal, it is believed that the restitution, which Abramoff will be expected to pay to those he wronged, may reach as high as $25 million dollars with an additional $1.7 million due to the Internal Revenue Service for the taxes that he evaded.
Among the prominent Republicans expected to be caught up in or what we here at the LIB refer to as the GOP Armageddon, are sleaze ball Texas Representative, Tom Delay and Ohio Congressman Bob Ney. Ney is the chairman of the House Administration Committee.
Tom DeLay already under criminal investigation in Texas received at least $57,000 in political contributions from Abramoff, his lobbying associates or his tribal clients between 2001 and 2004.
Abramoff also provided trips, sports skybox fundraisers, golf fees, frequent meals, entertainment and jobs for other lawmakers’, their relatives and aides.
- Denis Donovan
THE MONEY TRAIL: PART ONE
Research By Kate McConn
ABRAMOFF LOBBY NETWORK aka (”Team Abramoff”)
To fully understand the significance of Abramoff’s plea arrangement and what it could mean to Republican Washington, it is necessary to follow the money.
Jack Abramoff was a partner since 2004 in Cassidy & Associates Inc, a beltway lobbying firm. He was brought into the firm by Gregg Hartley, a former top aide to House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO).
Prior to that Abramoff hung his hat at Greenberg Traurig another DC lobbying firm. Donations at his tenure there included $20,000 to the Republican National Committee for the 2000 elections and $25,000 each to the GOP’s House and Senate fundraising committees in 2000 and again in 2002.
From 1995-2001 Abramoff was a member of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds LLP , still another DC lobbying firm.
It was during this time that he also worked on the George W. Bush Transition Team as an advisor to the Department of the Interior.
“This isn’t just a crooked lobbyist. This is someone managing a slush-fund. The sort of unregulated, unwatched pile of money patronage-based political machines always need to keep running.” — Josh Marshall, August 16, 2005
ABRAMOFF CLIENTS
Congo (formerly called Zaire) - Mobutu Sese Seko was the dictator and a client.
eLottery - Wound up in bankruptcy after spending $2 million to defeat the Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.
Foxcom Wireless - An Israeli telecommunications company given work wiring the House for wireless laptops and phones after Ney approved license.
Gabon (country in West Africa with off-shore oil) - President Bongo met Bush after paying Abramoff. David Safavian, top Bush federal procurement official, was a registered agent in Washington for President Bongo.
Indian tribes that have casinos including: Agua Caliente (CA), Chitimacha (LA),
Choctaw Tribe (MS), LA-Coushatta Tribe (working against Jena Band of Choctaw Indians)
AL-Coushatta Tribe (Livingston, TX), Iowa Meskwaki (Bear faction), Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (MA),
Pueblo of Sandia (NM), Pueblo of Santa Clara, Saginaw Chippewa (MI), Tigua tribe (El Paso, TX).
Abramoff played the tribes against each other while working with religious extremists including Ralph Reed to prevent the casinos from ever opening.
(E-mail from Abramoff to a partner: “I have to meet with the monkeys from the Choctaw tribal counsel.’‘)
(Ralph Reed quoted in the Weekly Standard: Money is like water down the side of the mountain. It will find a way to get around the trees. )
Abramoff secretly pressured the Texas state government to shut down a casino owned by the Tigua tribe of western Texas, then presented themselves as the casino’s savior, offering services to the tribe for a suggested monthly lobbying fee of $125,000 to $175,000 a month.
International Interactive Alliance - Gibraltar-based group that advocates for gambling on the Internet.
Islamic Banks Islam doesn’t approve of banking. Why do they own banks?
Northern Marianas (CNMI) - Pacific islands under U.S. control. Sweatshops use label “Made in USA.” The Marianas industry exploited tens of thousands of women workers, many of whom were channeled into the island sex trade, according to Rep. George Miller (D-CA). They gained at least $2 million more in federal aid and fought off minimum wage laws.
Tan Holdings (Willie Tan, owner) - Governor-elect Benigno R. Fitial says he will cooperate with federal authorities in the ongoing investigation of Abramoff, et al. He is a former executive of Tan Holdings. Tan family gave $36,000 for Bush re-election and $50,000 to the Ntl Republican Senatorial Committee.
Eloy Inos of Saipan
Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association
SunCruz Casinos - A Florida fleet of 11 ships with 2,300 slot machines and 175 gaming tables. Bought with College Republican chum Adam Kidan from Konstantinos “Gus” Boulis. Boulis was later gunned down mafia-style, and Kidan associates are charged in the killing. Kidan and Abramoff diverted $310,000 of SunCruz funds for luxury skyboxes at FedEx Field in Washington, the MCI Center, and Oriole Park .
They gave themselves $500,000 salaries. SunCruz went bankrupt. Federal prosecutors say Abramoff and Adam Kidan defrauded lenders by faking a $23-million wire transfer to make it appear that they put their own money into the purchase of SunCruz Casinos.
Tyco International Ltd. - Paid Abramoff $1.7 million 2003-2004.
UNISYS - Received a $1 billion contract from the Transportation Dept. (TSA) for a communications system linking airports.
“CHARITIES” USED TO LAUNDER MONEY, ETC.
Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) Grover Nordquist’s group started in 1985 to make government small enough to “drown in a bathtub.” Was used to funnel money to defeat anti-Internet gambling candidates. (The money went to Reed-allied groups.) Received $25,000 each from 2 Indian tribes.
Contributed $1 million from Indian funds to the Capital Athletic Foundation in 2001 per the Texas Observer.
Capital Athletic Foundation - “Less than 1 percent of its revenue has been spent on sports-related programs for youths.” (Washington Post) Told the IRS it gave away more than $330,000 in grants in 2002 to 4 charities that say they never received the money. Was used to pay for a trip for a member of Congress, Pay for a sniper school (Kollel Ohel Tiferet) in the Israeli-controlled West Bank, and Pay for a Jewish prep school.
Cato Institute - Abramoff paid Cato Senior Fellow Doug Bandow, who was also a Copley News Service syndicated columnist writing weekly columns for publication in magazines and newspapers, to insert items that were favorable to his clients. (Source = Business Week.)
Eshkol Academy - Received $1.9 million from Capital Athletic Foundation. Abramoff’s Jewish prep school for boys.
Institute for Policy Innovation - Senior Policy Adviser Peter Ferrara admits he was paid by Abramoff to write articles favorable to his clients. He wouldn’t identify the articles, but probably they were printed in the Washington Times. (Source = Business Week.)
International Freedom Foundation - a think tank that actively opposed Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress in South Africa in the 80s.
Kollel Ohel Tiferet in Israel (AKA Israeli sniper training school)- received $97,000 from Capital Athletic Foundation to purchase military gear for an Orthodox Jewish settlement in the West Bank. There is no public listing for the Kollel group, and the town’s mayor said he did not know of the organization, according to Newsweek magazine. The money was originally Indian tribal money.
National Center for Public Policy Research - Paid for Tom DeLay’s 2000 trip to Britain and a six-day trip to Moscow in 1997. Also, Ney said they paid for his trip to Scotland. Has received large donations from Abramoff’s Indian clients.
Strategic Business Ethics in California - Rabbi David Lapin received a $1.2 million no-bid contract to promote “ethics in government” in 1996 from the Northern Marianas. Later he ran a school for Abramoff. His brother Rabbi Daniel Lapin introduced Abramoff to DeLay in 1994. The brothers are from South Africa.
Toward Tradition - a Seattle group “working against anti-religion bigotry.” Was founded by Abramoff and run by Daniel Lapin.
Orthodox Jewish academy (Is this the same as Eshkol Academy?) - received Indian tribal money.
American International Center — a “think tank” - A California consulting firm using the address of Abramoff’s brother Robert’s law office. - Received checks for $2.3 million from Gabon
Kay Gold LLC - Abramoff family company received $400,000 from Gabon.
Received $1.5 million from a non-profit that originally came from client International Interactive Alliance (Internet gambling advocates).
GrassRoots Interactive - Established in 2003 by Edward B. Miller, a Republican lawyer who is now deputy chief of staff to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. of Maryland. Received $3 million from Gabon.
Also received $2 million from Tyco. (Tyco lawyer, Timothy E. Flanigan, withdrew from nomination as Deputy Attorney General.)
Signatures - a restaurant used for wining and dining and fund-raising.
Michael Scanlon Company = Capitol Campaign Strategies - Not registered as a lobbyist; so he didn’t have to disclose clients or report money. Scanlon was a onetime congressional staffer and a former press secretary to then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX), who became a top partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
TOMMOROW IN THE LIB, THE MONEY TRAIL CONTINUES WITH THE LIST OF ABRAMOFF’S PARTNERS AND ASSOCIATES
- Denis Donovan
Read Part II
Read Part III
