No wonder he doesn't want the FBI to come into the Congress

methinks we now know why he doth protest so vigoriously about fbi congessional office raids.

If Hastert goes "down" for taking money from Abramoff, then so too should Senator Reid, and anyone else who claims the "Democrats are holier than thou exemption".

Being the number one recipient of PAC donations from clients doesn't mean that he's guilty of anything, and it's not surprising given he's the speaker of the house. If there are contributions that exceed federal limits or unreported cash contributions to him personally then there is a serious bribery allegation here. The fact that we know he's the number one recipient suggests that the contributions were made through the transparent process of campaign contributions.

I am incensed that no one in Washington is shouting for the head of Congressman Jefferson, D La

Are they all collecting cash in their office refrigerators.

What a bunch of sanctimonius phonies.

Where is the outrage??????

Nancy Pelosi already sent Jefferson a letter to retire. The Democrats are cleaning up their own mess and the republicans need to do the same.

This explains why Rep. Hastert is attempting to obstruct the justice being done by the FBI on the bribe-taking Members of Congress!! It also explains why the Republicans want to reward even those illegal aliens who stole the Social Security numbers of decent, law abiding citizens with benefits paid by the law abiding! Honor amongst theives. Republican, Democrat, they are all a coniving, thieving bunch lining their own pockets while picking ours. I say turn the whole bunch of bums out!!!

What a sight! The Republican crime syndicate has a posse of Eliot Nesses all over them. Mob boss Hastert must be prepping for his smiley-face mug shot.

I hope there's prison room left after they all fill up with GOP leadership, so anybody in my Democratic Party who breaks the law can be stuffed in there with them.

abc I am proud of you for being one of the first corp owned media since 1996 to begin telling accurate critical facts.

Jefferson probably received so little money in the form of bribes compared to the GOP crooks that it would be embarrassing to over-publicize his peccadilloes. Tom DeLay and his fellow French Aristocrats could blow what Jefferson had in his fridge on golf, hookers, and blow in one afternoon. It's piddling and a sad testament to the Democrats disadvantageous Boy Scout honesty.

The real question is why are the feds going after these guys? I seriously doubt it has anything to do with money changing hands and more to do with politics.

Jefferson is on the House Ways and Means so is it possible they want someone who favors a different agenda?

It's about time. Sheesh - how many pots do you have to have your hand in before you get investigated?

"[Hastert] is being exceedingly active, even more than Newt," said Jack Abramoff, government affairs counselor for the firm Preston Gates, who has helped raise money for Gingrich and Hastert and has noticed donors' eagerness to meet the new speaker and his aides.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/govt/leadership/stories/hastert031099.htm

Keep up the good work, Brian, and ABC!

ABC is champion of the Drive By media. 1) There's no evidence Hastert used the money illegally. 2) The story is really about Jefferson...money in a freezer? My God. Just imagine if this were a Republican. 3) Lobbyist always the give the most to the people in power.. Check out the pre-1994 contributions to the Libs.
4) Deflecting from Jefferson won't work. 5) Harry Reid and John Kerry are both "in the mix". Have you mentioned that lately?

Isn't Harry Reid also in the mix?

Respond to the earlier comment "The real question is why are the feds going after these guys? I seriously doubt it has anything to do with money changing hands and more to do with politics. Jefferson is on the House Ways and Means so is it possible they want someone who favors a different agenda?"

Immediately after the FBI search, didn't both the republicans and the democrats in the House cry that the executive branch was abusing the power over the legislative branch? For federal legislators to defend their "rights" by saying the action of FBI (with search warrant) was unconstitutional is extremely ironic and troubling. Aren't they the law makers in this land of liberty? Shouldn't they know, in the first place, that no body is above the law? Too often, politicians think they can use "politically motivated" to label others to white wash their scandals. Unfortunately, their tactics are not that smart and won't carry much weight to scare off the truth finders. We, the people who sent the elected officials to represent us in the government, deserve the truth. I applaud the firm standing of ABC news on its ground, even though I am not convinced one way or the other at this moment that the speaker of the house has done any thing wrong. Still, he should have the grace to let the due process proceed and the courage to face public scrutiny. I hope he is smart enough not to say anything he will regret later. Remember the disgrace of the congress women from Georgia who attacked a capitol police and turned around accusing him for inappropriate touching?

Why is it rarely mentioned that Democrats recieved money from Abramoff as well? It seems the media all too conveniently forgets to state that it is nearly a 2/3-1/3 split R to D and includes nearly everyone from both parties. Couldn't be media bias.

I posted earlier but it didn't appear. Hastert received more money than Reid or Kerry because the party in power usually DOES get more money from Lobbyist.

Proving he did something wrong has not been done. So it's unfair to mention he's "in the mix" without mentioned others who are..such as Reid and Kerry.

When is the American public going to realize that ALL politicians are corrupt. Dems and GOP. Both parties are full of scum. Pelosi is no different than Hastert. She's just hiding better at this time! Stop being ignorant party toads and learn to think for yourself!

This is one reason I am working actively to unseat Chris Shays (R-CT) and send Diane Farrell to the House. It is time to not only get rid of those who are guilty, but those who covered for them. Shays called DeLay the "best Speaker the House ever had". Once the "Hammer got Nailed" he changed his tune.
I encourage each voter to look closely at their representatives and make wise choices in Nov.
Gail

I'm sick and tired of the Right's pius attitudes about their crooked law makers. If any Democrat is involved in breaking the law, they too should be subjected to the same fate.
Where is the outrage they exhibited when Clinton was caught lying? Where is your disgust for dozens & dozens of examples of this idiot president,wiping his feet on our Constitution?

Again, great job of reporting, Brian! I used the link to view the amounts of the contributions Abramoff made to his "clients," and I felt as if I were looking at a price list for "the best legislators money can buy." This speaks volumes as to what politicians' values are today!

The law is no different for anyone and because you hold a political position that represents power this should not exemplify a reason to conduct yourself any differently.

It’s a pity this is what we have regardless of the political parties involved in this article. We are human’s and we all make mistakes but, these were the decisions they made and clearly new was wrong and now have to pay the price for those choices. Their sworn oath is to uphold the law, not abolish it so all of these wrongs would make a right, possible in hopes the law would be changed for them, and no penalty would be render.

Thank you ABC and Brian representing the media mainstream as it should be, honest and to the point, not allowing your editorial pieces to be dictated too, controlled by any political party or other means of power. You provide clear, precise, and accurate information which is exactly what the world should receive, therefore, I will stay in tune for your future commentaries regarding this subject and all transcribes reported.

God Bless

This does not look good:
House Speaker Dennis Hastert is the No.1 individual recipient of money from Abramoff and his clients, with a total of $68,300 contributed to his campaign committee and leadership PAC from 1998 to 2004.

Hopefully, the GOP will return to being a party for true conservatives... not corporate-fascists.

Even Ed Rollins thinks it is time for Bush to go.

Hastert is my congressman and I will use the phrase he used about giving the government the right to listen and track my phone, e-mail and Internet traffic, if your not guilty why should you need the constitution to protect you. What is he hiding?
Where are the conservative values we have been voting for the last six years?

Disappointed Conservative

I hope it's about time for there to be a follow-up to this article.

"It's not because of fate, it's because of Tequila" That may be the best thing I have ever read in my whole life!