Posted on 01/03/2006 3:42:41 PM PST by CarlEOlsoniii
Once-powerful lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud, agreeing to cooperate in an influence-peddling investigation that threatens powerful members of Congress.
In a heavily scripted court appearance, Abramoff agreed with U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle when she said he had engaged in a conspiracy involving "corruption of public officials." The lobbyist also agreed when she said he and others had engaged in a scheme to provide campaign contributions, trips and other items "in exchange for certain official acts."
"Words will not ever be able to express my sorrow and my profound regret for all my actions and mistakes," Abramoff said, addressing the judge. "I hope I can merit forgiveness from the Almighty and those I've wronged or caused to suffer."
To each of the three charges, Abramoff said, "I plead guilty, your honor." Huvelle and lawyers in the case referred to restitution possibly reaching $25 million in the case. As is typically the case in such pleadings, what happened in the courtroom Tuesday was arranged in advance between lawyers for the defendant and the prosecutors.
Abramoff faces 30 years in prison, and he will cooperate 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.
Abramoff's travels with former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay are already under criminal investigation. The lobbyist's interactions with the Texas Republican's congressional office frequently came around the time of campaign donations, golf outings or other trips provided or arranged by Abramoff for DeLay and other lawmakers. In all, DeLay received at least $57,000 in political contributions from Abramoff, his lobbying associates or his tribal clients between 2001 and 2004.
Court papers released Tuesday also detailed lavish gifts and contributions that Abramoff gave an unnamed House member, identified elsewhere as Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Administration Committee, in return for Ney's agreement to use his office to aid Abramoff clients.
Ney's lawyer, Mark Tuohey, said Tuesday that the charges against Abramoff were "nothing new." He said they repeated information in the November plea agreement from Abramoff's lobbying partner, Michael Scanlon.
Abramoff also was expected to plead guilty in Florida to two of the six charges in a federal indictment, according to his lawyer there, Neal Sonnett. A change of plea hearing has been scheduled in Miami for Wednesday afternoon, Justice officials said.
Prosecutors say Abramoff and Scanlon conspired to defraud Indian tribes in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Texas of millions of dollars. Abramoff reaped roughly $20 million in hidden profits from the scheme, according to the information. Scanlon pleaded guilty in November.
That's right. Pubbies will go down, Rats probably won't. "They say" the big recipient of Abramoff largesse was DeLay. If Abramoff was a Dem, he'd stonewall - and become a hero like Susan McDougal. Instead he's a beefer who will hurt the GOP.
Reid got $11,000 more than Delay did?
But..I also remember a lying rapist in the Whitehouse...that a spineless house couldn't "do anything about" because they couldn't stomach seeing their own FBI files...so they took a powder.
Color me extremely pessimistic....on anything happening to these lying stinking thieves....
Thanks. I knew they were growing, but I didn't realize they grew that much. It must also be a district-by-district thing, with at-large states having the largest ratio of people to representative. Just a guess, though, since Congress at some point limited the size of the House to 435 members, regardless of the population of the United States. Maybe they should also increase the size of the House to be more proportionally fair across districts?
-PJ
I tend to agree with you - we need to see some "quid pro quo" - the promise of an explicit vote for cash.
I hope they throw the whole lot of corrupt congresscritters in jail regardless of their political affiliation.
OK. Thank you for mentioning that, as I have heard this briefly talked about, but only in passing. I guess it means the entire story has not even come out yet, because there is not much content being reported right now about what you brought up. (Yet, he did plead guilty; so, I guess there's a lot of that stuff to come.)
You betcha....but the MSM doesn't report that little fact....bookmark that list for future revelations...
Fiat justitia, ruat coelum
You can show them this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1551354/posts?page=7#7
I must be an idiot, too, because I'm wondering the same thing.
Surely he did something worse than the rest of them, right?
Or did he just get caught and the rest of them have run to the hills?
Brit said they may as well lock up all of Washington if they were going to say it was illegal to lobby.
Thanks for admitting you are wondering the same! :)
well sure, on Abramoff's side of the crime (that he plead guilty to) - if he engaged in acts of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion - that's his rap. what he does with the money on the other end of the food chain - unless they can show specific promises of votes for cash, its meaningless.
if a drug dealer sends a check to congressman X for $1000 (from a booty of ill gotten gains) - the congressman is guilty of taking drug money? its guilt by association, unless you can show the congressman knew the contribution came from drug operations, or promises some specific vote for that money, where is the crime?
Elected offical who do little or nothing while be vastly overpaid by the tax payers, who have the best medical insurance, for life, that the tax payers can afford to give them, who make more money after the are out of office than while in ofice, who are rich before being elected, who are arrogant, who never tell the truth, being corrupt? I am shocked, just shocked.
Let's make one thing clear: I don't think you or I are making excuses for this guy.
I just haven't heard anything yet that I haven't read about somebody else (Democrats) doing that they didn't get prosecuted for.
Yes, I understand the point you are making, and I think it is a valid one; on the other hand, this uy Jack A. seemed to want to publicly express A LOT of remorse today to the judge,m so clearly, there was criminal intent on his part in this matter. Because otherwise, you wouldn't have this speech from him about the Almighty, how sorry he is, etc. etc. in an effort to cut down his jail time.
Oh, no - no excuses for this guy, and he obviously knows he is guilty of crimes. But, so far, the story that will really grab the average voter has not come out yet, in my view, if people like you and me are scratching our heads saying: What exactly did this guy DO that was illegal? (And he's already admitted guilt; so obviously he DID do something crimina.)_
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