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.
I am starting to wonder about the details of his plea agreement.
Ok ....this guy is a crook ..and he gives money and goods to lawmakers that is skirting the line between lobbying and graft ....What lawmaker is going to be dumb enough to show a quid pro quo? In short how will they prove someone voted differently than they would have by acccepting cash /goods?
" If we no longer have Senatorial elections and revert back to the Statehouses appointing their Senators"
I agree with you totally.
I don't understand why Dem posters are claiming that no Dem congress leaders will be involved in this. I'm finding that very hard to believe, that all Dem congress leaders are totally innocent in what the press is calling the biggest scandal of the decade.I just can't imagine every Dem leader, facing a suitcase full of cash, saying: "Oh, no, no bribes for me, thank you."
I don't know - unless he has given supporting documentation, like tapes or emails.
I want ANWR passed, my gongressman was likely going to vote for it anyway, I send him $100 with a note that says "vote for ANWR". He votes for ANWR. Did I buy his vote with my $100?
Yeah, but if you then plead guilty to bribery and agree to do some jail time, with your expensive lawyers advising you, and you then beg forgiceness from the Almighty -- I have to think something more is going on than what you described.
their logic is likely simple - only the "majority" can pass a certain piece of legislation, so in effect you can only "bribe" the majority. the minority can't get anything done, so the money they take isn't "for anything".
that will be their logic and the media spin on this.
I don't think they can.
But I'm all for them finding out; our guys or their guys, get them all.
But get them ALL.
He didn't give anything to John McCain?!
Well, the media will spin this all over the place, but jail time is jail time, and once people start agreeing to go to jail, I think some real hard facts will have to come out.
He organized the bribery of Congress on an industrial scale, too big to be ignored.
The entire legislative system has been converted to a bribery machine, and I'm sure Abramoff believed his crimes were nothing new - and, he's right.
But the linkage to the "Indian" casino scam was a novelty which upped the funds available, and Jack A engineered a never-ending stream of cash from that source which could be, and was, turned to many uses.
I'm sure there are lots of options on both sides of the aisles. I'm more than a little skeptical, however, that targets of these investigations will come from both sides.
Of course, the MSM won't ask obvious questions like this when it comes to Republicans receiving the money. They'll just repeat "Republican scandal".
but he has to give something more to the prosecutors. he can't just say "my money is illegal, and I donated to A,B,C - cut me a plea deal".
if that is what this case turns out to be, if he isn't offering substanative evidence of political corruption over and above simply making the contributions - something stinks at DOJ.
Fantastic Idea! Put 'em all away and start over.
what did he get for these contributions? access? we know money buys access, that's nothing new.
They are saying he must have offered the DOJ something very suibstanial, and
that's why these talks between him & the GOJ went on for so long. I am guessing some people involved in this will start coming forward to cut themselves a deal, and they, too, will implicate others. So, really, we are just at the beginning here in some ways. But, I agree with you, too, that a lot more needs to come out.
Those on this forum downplaying this story because of the media hype are seriously misinformed.
This is a BIG DEAL.
I highly doubt it will be as bad as one congressional insider told CNN though...saying it would be the biggest thing in decades. I doubt that. I expect only a few indictments and at most, only one conviction of an actual lawmaker. But, that still would be big.
I am not a "Party uber Alles" GOP kool-aid drinker. If they are dirty, regardless of party affiliation, try them and fry them.
That's some serious coin. Hey, John 'effin Kerry: looks like you're accepting Abramoff's money, too, buddy!!
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