Posted on 01/11/2006 12:12:43 AM PST by YaYa123
A Justice Department investigation into influence-peddling on Capitol Hill is focusing on a "first tier" of lawmakers and staffers, both Republicans and Democrats, say sources close to the probe that has netted guilty pleas from lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Law-enforcement authorities and others said the investigation's opening phase is scrutinizing Sens. Conrad Burns, Montana Republican; Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota Democrat; and Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, along with Reps. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona Republican, and Bob Ney, Ohio Republican.
A source working with the Justice Department on the investigation told The Washington Times that Abramoff was questioned during several interviews about the lawmakers and their purported ties to the lobbyist and his former clients. The source said prosecutors asked Abramoff whether the lawmakers had performed "official acts" in exchange for campaign cash or other favors. Although it is unknown whether any of the five will be charged in the case, the source said Abramoff was being "prepped" by five Justice Department attorneys in that event.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Good morning Howard Dean. Good morning Don Imus and his guests from yesterday, James Carville and Paul Begala.
What was that I was hearing? A purely Republican scandal? Add in the fact that Rockefeller probably leaked secrets and I'd say we have equal opportunity corruption and scandal.
Dingy Harry? I'm shocked! Shocked to find Sen. Reid caught up in this. :)
That sound you're not hearing tomorrow is the MSM and the Dems changing the subject.
Harry Reid is a natural, having served for many years as the Nevada Gaming Commision Chairman. Get him in your pocket and you can get $30,000,000 fees from casinos for special treatment. Slam dunk.
Sorry, I forgot to post this. Arriana Huffington crying and peeing in her pants over Tim Russert's mention of Reid on Sunday's Meet the Press. She prefers that he stick with the agenda.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20060108/cm_huffpost/013468;_ylt=A0SOwkj0_MFDnlIBfw79wxIF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--
I absolutely loved this article naming names...oh what fun!!!
I know it's The Washington Times, not The New York Times. so the MSM pukes and pundits won't be discussing it, but the word is "out there". With a few more leaks like this, "from sources close to the case", democrats won't be so quick to spew out their "culture of corruption" soundbites.
What ARE the democRATS to do!!!! The Alito hearings are going great....they can't inflick any harm there.....
And now little harry baby is being looked at on the abhamoff scandal....why who woulda thought!!!!
Don't ya just love it when a RAT goes down in flames?????
"And, sure enough, Tim opened the show with the Abramoff scandal. So what did he choose to focus on? What, in his estimation, was the salient point to zero in on? This: will Harry Reid return the contributions he's received -- not from Jack Abramoff himself, mind you, but from three Indian tribes and from members of Abramoff's former lobbying firm? Go get em, Tim! Some might look at the events of this week and decide that the story lay somewhere in the intersection between the Republican party and the culture of corruption. But not Tim. He knows the real story is whether Harry Reid will return the loot."
I bet Tim knew on Sunday that Harry was one of the ones being investigated. I bet he got this leak before The Washington Times did.
Most likely he did know this was coming. The question is, was he trying to help Reid or hurt him?
Thanks, YaYa, and an early, early good morn' to ya. My WT is still on the driveway and it's trying rain.
Isn't this what Evan Thomas said Monday on the Imus program - it would boil down to four or five critters?
Did Duke Cunningham shock you? The venality of politicians of either party should never shock. There is just too much opportunity for them to line their nests, and many do. They write the rules for themselves, and often break them.
I know, J.D. is my congressman. **sigh**
I'm still not getting it with this story.
Are the contributions themselves illegal? I'm guessing not. Is this then about quid-pro-quo favors in return?
That might be harder to prove than it seems.
The following is a January 4 article I missed initially. I always take NewsMax with restraint, (they do dramatize), but in this instance, it's instructive, and way ahead of the Washington Times AND Tim Russert.
_________________________________________________________
"January 4, 2006
Abramoff Scandal May Snare Democrat Senator Harry Reid
By Jim Kouri
(AXcess News) New York - This morning's big story that Washington super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff has reached a plea bargain deal with the Justice Department has Washington insiders and pundits believing this case will hurt the Republican Party.
However, according to a news story appearing on NewsMax.com, the prominent player in Abramoff's web of influence may be the Senate's top Democrat, Harry Reid. In a little noticed story in November, the Associated Press revealed that Reid had accepted tens of thousands of dollars from an Abramoff client, the Coushatta Indian tribe, after interceding with Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton over a casino dispute with a rival tribe.
Reid "sent a letter to Norton on March 5, 2002," reported the AP. "The next day, the Coushattas issued a $5,000 check to Reid's tax-exempt political group, the Searchlight Leadership Fund. A second tribe represented by Abramoff sent an additional $5,000 to Reid's group. Reid ultimately received more than $66,000 in Abramoff-related donations between 2001 and 2004."
Questioned about the donations last month by "Fox News Sunday's" Chris Wallace, Reid immediately turned testy. "Don't try to say I received money from Abramoff. I've never met the man, don't know anything," he insisted.
When Wallace protested: "But you've received money from [one of his Indian tribe clients]," the top Democrat shot back: "Make sure that all your viewers understand - not a penny from Abramoff. I've been on the Indian Affairs Committee my whole time in the Senate."
When the Fox host pressed again on the Abramoff-linked donations, a flustered-sounding Reid continued to stonewall, saying: "I'll repeat, Abramoff gave me no money. His firm gave me no money. He may have worked for a firm where people have given me money. But I have -- I feel totally at ease that I haven't done anything that is even close to being wrong."
A lotta leaks from this investigation already. I also note that the bete noir, Tom DeLay, is not on that list.
Gee, guess his usual slick cover and intimidation is not working this time!
Thanks for the reminder of Evan Thomas' prediction.
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