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Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others
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ShareNovember 15, 2006 1:23 PM
As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.
A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical.
"We have no idea what Abramoff is telling prosecutors to save his skin, but I do know that these kind of old allegations are completely ridiculous and untrue," Sen. Reid's spokesman Jim Manley told ABC News.
THE BLOTTER RECOMMENDS
A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."
Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him on matters related to Indian gambling.
The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to his campaign.
Reid has denied there was any connection between the letters and the contributions and has said he is a longtime opponent of certain kinds of Indian reservation gambling.
The AP reported that Reid acknowledged "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening to block rival tribal casinos.
The AP also reported that Abramoff's billing records showed extensive contact with Reid's office over a three-year period in which Reid collected more than $68,000 from Abramoff's firm, partners and clients.
Prosecutors have said that Abramoff's cooperation is essential to the corruption investigation, but, so far, they have brought only one prosecution against a member of Congress connected to Abramoff, Republican Bob Ney of Ohio, who resigned.
The source said prosecutors do not intend to rely solely on Abramoff's account of events, and his allegations against Reid and others will not necessarily result in criminal charges.
Sources close to the federal investigation say Abramoff has offered testimony about his contacts with "six to eight seriously corrupt Democratic senators" and an ever larger number of Republican members of Congress.
In addition to Reid, the sources say Abramoff has been most closely questioned about his contacts with Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who was defeated in last week's election.
"Being defeated may have been one of the best things that ever happened to Burns," said a source close to the investigation. "There is much more interest in members of Congress who are still in office," the source said.
Burns, who received more than $150,000 in Abramoff-connected campaign contributions, has strongly denied any wrongdoing and returned the money.
Sen. Reid has been an outspoken critic of the connections between Abramoff and Republican legislators.
In a speech earlier this year, Sen. Reid described it as "a program where the lobbyists paid and the Republican members of Congress played."
The Justice Department said it would have no comment on the ongoing Abramoff investigation.
November 15, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (418)
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Typical, Rep get nailed, Dems got off
Posted by: steve | Nov 15, 2006 1:43:27 PM
Ooh, you mean the squeaky-clean Dems took money from Abramoff too? By the news coverage before the election, you would've thought only the GOP was involved. Funny how that works, isn't? If evidence emerges of criminal conduct, I guarantee the Dems will ELEVATE that crook through their ranks...that's the Dem way.
Posted by: Rick | Nov 15, 2006 1:43:58 PM
Here's a surprise... Harry Reid is corrupt. Next you are going to tell me that Sen. Byrd is a racist who was part of the KKK (notice the sarcasm). I say get rid of all of the corrupt members of Congress from ALL parties, not just the Republicans. Wake up America, the Republicans are not the only party with corrupt members. The difference is that when a Republican gets caught, they at least do the right thing and resign.
Posted by: Eric S. | Nov 15, 2006 1:46:05 PM
Democrats play nasty and the MSM plays right along with them. Partners in crime.
Posted by: Jen | Nov 15, 2006 1:48:09 PM
Typical, corrupt Reps trying to drag Dems with them.
Posted by: Eric | Nov 15, 2006 1:48:59 PM
I wonder why ABC would sit on this story until after the elections?
Posted by: NeoLiberal | Nov 15, 2006 1:49:29 PM
It will be interesting to see if the media attacks the dirty dems with the same ferocity as they do dirty republicans. Somehow I doubt they will.
Posted by: Mike | Nov 15, 2006 1:49:37 PM
Funny how this only seems to be news AFTER the election.....
And they say there is no liberal bias.....yeah, right.
Posted by: Ed Davis | Nov 15, 2006 1:49:48 PM
That's funny. News about Harry Reid's "interesting" land deal was out there weeks before the election. ABC and others determined that it wasn't important enough to report on. Now that the election is over, this is becoming news. I'm glad ABC and others have no agenda.
Posted by: Jeff Daniels | Nov 15, 2006 1:50:25 PM
The liberal media completely igneored the $1 million Bribe that Reid took from his land developer friend in Las Vegas which did make the news breiefly before the election but was over shadowed by big gay foley's e-mails in the libturd news. Now it turns out reid was taking big bribes from Abramoff as well.
Maybe Lincoln Jeffords has room in his freezer for Harry's cash as well.
Posted by: Joe Mahmah | Nov 15, 2006 1:51:36 PM
Remember Dems are held to a different, not the same or higher standard...for them to receive bribes and be part of corruption is all acceptible as long as they are perceived as looking out for the working and middle class...
Posted by: Tony | Nov 15, 2006 1:51:36 PM
Isn't it OBVIOUS?!? Abramoff was/is/and will ALWAYS be a DEMOCRAT!!!! Don't you get it? He SET UP the Republicans before the elections for the Dems, and now that his New York ass is behind bars he starts naming the Dems who refuse to save him.
Typical shameless Dem move. Nice job America!
Posted by: eris | Nov 15, 2006 1:51:44 PM
boxer and pelosi and/or their family members worked for indian casino in calif.
Posted by: kevin hawkins | Nov 15, 2006 1:51:47 PM
Well, when Harry Reid says Abrahamoff is lying, we're supposed to believe him. But of course if a Republican says it THEY are lying.
And the Dems elected him their leader again, along with their soon to be majority leader in the house Jack Murtha.
The most transparently corrupt congress in history? They put them out front and center now, don't they. It's like they're rubbing it in America's face now.
Posted by: Roman | Nov 15, 2006 1:52:17 PM
I could not have said it any better...Ditto
Posted by: Bryan K | Nov 15, 2006 1:52:33 PM
If any serving Politician is suspected of having been involved in corrupt practises, that Politician should step down from any committees he / she serves on, so as to allow as speedy an investigation as possible, without seriously disrupting the administration or the workings of Congress.
Posted by: Stuart | Nov 15, 2006 1:52:42 PM
Great reporting Brian Ross. This has been known for a long time, of course you, MSM, only start to promote AFTER the mid-term elections. You hypocrite.
Posted by: Bo | Nov 15, 2006 1:52:46 PM
I'm absolutely sickened by all the double talk coming out of D.C. I completely agree that no matter what party they're from, ALL corrupt congressmen and women should resign....Power really goes to people's heads, no matter what their political persuasion.
Posted by: Keisha | Nov 15, 2006 1:52:55 PM
Of course none of this information was known prior to election day? hmmmmm....
Posted by: Dirty Harry | Nov 15, 2006 1:53:25 PM
Gee, ABC wouldn't have held this story until AFTER the elections, would they?
NAHHHHHHHHHHHHH....
Posted by: Tony | Nov 15, 2006 1:53:30 PM
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