Posted on 02/15/2006 9:56:44 AM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator's staff regularly had contact with the disgraced lobbyist's partners about legislation affecting other clients.
The activities — detailed in billing records and correspondence obtained by Associated Press — are more extensive than previously disclosed.
They occurred over three years as Reid collected about $68,000 in donations from Abramoff's firm, lobbying partners and clients.
Reid's office acknowledged last week having "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters, such as blocking some tribal casinos, in ways Abramoff's clients might have deemed helpful. But it said none of Reid's actions were affected by donations or carried out for Abramoff.
"All the actions that Sen. Reid took were consistent with his long-held beliefs, such as not letting tribal casinos expand beyond reservations, and were taken to defend the interests of Nevada constituents," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said.
Reid has led the Democratic Party's attacks portraying Abramoff's lobbying and fundraising as a Republican scandal.
Abramoff's records show his lobbying partners billed for about two dozen phone contacts or meetings with Reid's office in 2001 alone.
Most were to discuss Democratic legislation that would have applied the U.S. minimum wage to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory and an Abramoff client, but would have given the islands a temporary break on the wage rate, the billing records show.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Injun Harry.....the Nevader cadaver!!
But not one dime of his lobbiest money went to Democrats! Not one! How could Howard Dean lie to me like this!!!
Yep, it's a REPUBLICAN "culture of corruption".
Drip, drip, drip. When will Dingey step down from his post as Minority leader?
You have to understand this.
Democrats are corrupt and Reid even admits that it is his belief, therefore it is ok to be corrupt.
Which of course explains why when a Democrat is caught, they do not give up their seat like a Republican would.
An example:
Nixon bad
Clinton good.
AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File
"Try to help a few 'poor' indians and what do ya get?"
Harry Reid... kneedeep in a pile of it
Well that wasn't nice to somebody, was it? BTW what power does a Senator have to block a tribal casino? We're talking a lot of wampum involved there.
IF republicans had any sense they'de get into why was Harry blocking Indian casinos, obviously the blockers were rival casinos squeezing out competition. He should be involved in that, it's like in the Godfather part 2.
Searchlight, NV
Birthplace of Dusty the Senator.
Harry Reid as a baby
I demand that Harry immediately hold a press conference and explain himself. Now this story truly is a cover-up. Come on Harry. When will you resign your post?
Looks like Hugh Hewitt finally shamed them into finally mentioning this. HH was all over them yesterday on a 46 paragraph Pombo article. Anybody know how to ping Hugh?
RUMOR has it that dingy harry was DRUNK when he accepted INDIAN TRIBAL CASINO BRIBES!!!!!!!!!
LLS
I'll alert 60 minutes - tick... tick... tick...
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