Jail Time for Abramoff Put Off ... Again

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September 06, 2006 12:18 PM

A court hearing set for today in the case against Jack Abramoff, a former lobbyist who had pleaded guilty to bribery charges and is now cooperating with the government, has been delayed until December.

This marks the second time Abramoff's status conference and sentencing has been postponed.  The first time occurred this past June when the government sought to delay his reporting date by 90 days in order to give Abramoff more time "to continue cooperating with the government." 

While court documents offer no clue about the ongoing Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) investigation, one recent filing noted that Abramoff is still cooperating with investigators.

"Abramoff has agreed to cooperate with the government in any and all matters when required.  In conformity with this agreement, Mr. Abramoff has been cooperating with government agents and prosecutors.  The government anticipates that Mr. Abramoff's cooperating will continue for the foreseeable future," a filing from last week notes.

Abramoff, once one of the most popular lobbyists on K Street known for treating Congressmen to extravagant trips, including one to a golf course in St. Andrew's, Scotland, pleaded guilty to corruption charges earlier this year and agreed to cooperate in the government's ongoing investigation of congressional bribery and influence peddling. Federal law enforcement officials have since said Abramoff has spent "hours and hours" with FBI agents detailing his relationships with dozens of members of Congress. He was supposed to begin serving his sentence Oct. 2.