Abramoff Still Cooperating, Say Feds

August 28, 2007 1:00 PM

Justin Rood Reports:

For his continued cooperation with federal prosecutors, Jack Abramoff may get another delay in his bribery case.

Lawyers for the government and the disgraced former GOP superlobbyist are asking to postpone for another three months sentencing Abramoff for fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to corrupt public officials, to which he pleaded guilty more than 18 months ago.

During that time, Abramoff is expected to continue helping the government's investigators "for the foreseeable future," the two groups said in their request to U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Huvelle. The delay would be the fourth so far in Abramoff's bribery case and would push his sentencing date at least into December.

Photos: In the Wake of the Abramoff Scandal

A delay wouldn't keep Abramoff out of jail. Since last November, he has already been serving a five-year, 10-month sentence in a federal prison in Cumberland, Md., after pleading guilty to separate wire fraud and conspiracy charges. In all, Abramoff is expected to serve between nine and 11 years.

To date, the Abramoff investigation has obtained guilty pleas or convictions in 10 cases, including ones against former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, former White House official David Safavian, and former deputy Interior secretary Stephen Griles. At least four current or former lawmakers are reportedly under investigation for improper activity related to Abramoff.

Do you have a tip for Brian Ross and the Investigative Team?

August 28, 2007 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (11)

Brother, Can You Spare a Grand? Abramoff-Tied Lawmaker Passes Hat to Pay Legal Bills

June 22, 2007 5:52 PM

Justin Rood Reports:

Reportedly under scrutiny by federal prosecutors for his role in a 2003 Scottish golf trip paid for by disgraced former superlobbyist Jack Abramoff, a Florida congressman is starting a fundraising push to help cover his legal bills.

Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Fla., on Wednesday filed papers establishing a legal defense fund, to pay legal expenses "arising from Tom Feeney's ongoing voluntary cooperation with inquiries" stemming from the federal investigation into the Abramoff scandal, Feeney spokeswoman Pepper Pennington told the Blotter on ABCNews.com.

Feeney's defense fund is being handled by Tallahassee lawyer and longtime Feeney friend Richard Coates, Pennington said, but Feeney's defense is being handled by the high-priced Washington powerhouse firm Patton Boggs.

Feeney is "looking forward to a successful fundraising season," Pennington told ABCNews.com, adding that they have an "active fundraising calendar" planned and that the effort was "off to a strong start."

In an e-mailed statement, Pennington said donations had been received from "longtime friends and supporters who have full confidence that Rep. Feeney has acted legally in this matter." She did not say how much the fund had raised to date.

Participants on Abramoff-sponsored junkets have since faced significant legal problems.  Fellow golfer and former White House official David Safavian is in jail, along with Abramoff and former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who also golfed with the one-time GOP power broker-turned government witness; two other former congressional aides who took trips with Abramoff have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with investigators. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, also a guest on Abramoff's golf trips, is reportedly under investigation for his ties to Abramoff.

Abramoff spent roughly $20,000 per guest on the golf trip, according to prosecutors.  Feeney reported the cost to be less than $6,000.  In January, the House Ethics Committee ruled it was wrong for Feeney to accept the trip from Abramoff and ordered him to pay his reported cost to the U.S. Treasury.

Feeney has insisted he had "no relationship" with Abramoff, and the trip was "an expensive lesson."

June 22, 2007 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (8)

Another Abramoff Crony Expected to Plead Guilty

April 23, 2007 6:37 PM

Jason Ryan and Brian Ross Report:

Another government official corrupted by lobbyist Jack Abramoff is expected to plead guilty Tuesday to charges he took bribes, including a golf trip to Scotland and $10,000 in cash, Justice Department officials say.

Mark Zachares, the former secretary of the Department of Labor and Immigration for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was named in a criminal information filed in federal court today. 

According to the document, Zachares told Abramoff he "really could make things happen" if Abramoff helped get him a job at the Department of Homeland Security.

The documents says Zachares tried to help Abramoff "adjust his business development strategies to build a homeland security lobbying practice that would eventually benefit Zachares when he ultimately joined Abramoff's firm as a lobbyist."

Zachares got to know Abramoff when Abramoff was working for garment manufacturers who opposed changes in the Marianas' labor laws, which permitted the companies to bring in low-paid women to work making clothing for leading American brands.

Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.

According to the documents, Zachares received from Abramoff "salary enhancements, an overseas trip, meals, drinks, golf and tickets to professional sports events."

Zachares was treated to one of Abramoff's infamous Scotland golf outings in August 2003. Also on the trip, according to prosecutors, was Congressman Tom Feeny, R-Fla., who has not been charged with any crime.

The charging document says Zachares provided Abramoff with information about threat assessments which would help him establish himself as a lobbyist dealing with homeland security issues.

The fact that Zachares plans to enter a guilty plea suggests he will cooperate in the ongoing investigation of Abramoff and his connections to members of Congress.

April 23, 2007 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (3)

DOJ: Crooked Congressman Reports to Prison

March 01, 2007 3:22 PM

From Our Sources:

From a U.S. Department of Justice press release:

"On March 1, 2007, at approximately 10:22 A.M., Robert W. Ney, Register Number 28882-016, surrendered to the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Morgantown, West Virginia, for service of his federal sentence.  He was sentenced in United States District Court, District of Columbia, to a 30-month sentence for Conspiracy and False Statements.  FCI Morgantown is a minimum security level institution with approximately 1300 inmates.  It is located three miles south of Morgantown near the West Virginia/Southwest Pennsylvania border."

Ney is the only lawmaker to be convicted in connection to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.  For more of the Blotter's coverage of the Abramoff scandal, click here.

March 1, 2007 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (12)

Former Rep. Bob Ney Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for His Abramoff Dealings

January 19, 2007 1:56 PM

Jennifer Duck and Teddy Davis Report:

Ney will serve the 30-month sentence he received today in a prison in Morgantown, W.Va., where he will enroll in an alcohol abuse program. The West Virginia prison was chosen so Ney could be close to his family in Ohio.

Ney came before the judge, expressed "deep regret" and apologized to his family, friends and constituents.

Ney told the court, "I especially regret the pain this ordeal has caused my family. I hope and pray that with time and love, our family can recover from the damage I have done."

Ney added that he hoped "to battle the demons of his addictions."

Last year, Ney admitted he had alcohol and gambling addictions.

Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.

The Department of Justice recommended a 27-month sentence, but Judge Ellen Huvelle recommended Ney receive the higher end of the punishment -- 30 months -- which both parties accepted.

Huvelle increased the sentence because of Ney's dealings with Abramoff and separate dealings Ney had with a foreign businessman in London.

ABC News confirmed from Justice Department and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials that the businessman was Syrian.

In his plea agreement, Ney admitted accepting more than $45,000 in gambling chips from the businessman. Ney also had one of his staffers carry $5,000 of the gambling chips through U.S. Customs.

Not mentioned today, but in his guilty plea, Ney admitted to contacting the State Department to inquire about changing export codes to have U.S. aircraft parts sold to Iran.

Ney paid $200 before leaving the courthouse today and must pay $6,000 over the next two years in addition to serving community service hours. Judge Huvelle denied Ney's plea to expand the $6,000 payment over three years.

Judge Huvelle said the 30 month sentence was appropriate because Ney's "illegal conduct spanned a good number of years. … Four years is a long time."

Huvelle added Ney's conduct was a "significant and serious abuse of the public's trust."

On Ney's alcohol and gambling problems, Huvelle said, "I don't think that actually explains what happened."

Also today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was asked at the National Press Club to explain why Ney has not been stripped of his congressional pension.

She said there was "a real question" as to whether Congress would have the constitutional authority to take such action retroactively.

Pelosi made her comments while delivering a "prebuttal" to President Bush's State of the Union address.

January 19, 2007 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (3)

Former Rep. Ney Gets a Longer Sentence Than What Prosecutors Requested

January 19, 2007 11:00 AM

Maddy Sauer and Krista Kjellman Report:

Former Ohio Rep. Bob Ney, the first congressman to be ensnared in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle said Ney would serve an additional two years on probation and pay a $6,000 fine.  She also mandated Ney participate in a prison alcohol rehabilitation program. 

"Both your constituents and the public trusted you to represent them honestly," Judge Huvelle said of the sentence, which was longer than the 29 months requested by prosecutors in the case. 

Just yesterday, Ney's attorneys delivered 95 pages of letters from family, friends and constituents who asked that the court consider leniency when sentencing the former Ohio congressman who had pled guilty last year to accepting lavish gifts from lobbyists, including Abramoff, in exchange for taking official action at Abramoff's request.

A staffer of former Congressman Bob Ney's, Matthew Parker, said Ney was a "functioning alcoholic who could rarely make it through the day without drinking and would often begin drinking beers as early as 7:30 a.m."

Many of the letters cited Ney's career accomplishments, but a few offered an inside look from those close to him as to why they believe Ney had made the poor decisions that he did.

"I firmly believe that Bob's addiction to alcohol drove him to make some bad decisions," wrote Parker. "He drank too much on a regular basis, and it began to interfere with his judgment in his personal life and as a Member of Congress."

Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.

Parker went on to say that since his resignation, Ney has become a "changed man" and has gone through extensive counseling and rehabilitation.

In another letter of support, Ellen Ratner, bureau chief for Washington, D.C.'s "The Hill" newspaper, wrote that she was aware of Ney's drinking problem as far back as the year 2000 but only confronted him about her concerns last February.

"Although he takes full responsibility," Ratner wrote, "I believe that alcohol was the driving force behind those poor judgments."

Another friend of Ney's, Wesley Leggett, wrote, "The disease of alcoholism took this man from being a very successful state senator and United States Congressman to now facing many legal and financial consequences. His drinking severely clouded his judgment, as well as his ability to make sound, clear decisions."

Among his poor decisions, Ney has admitted to accepting luxurious trips from Abramoff, including a golf trip to Scotland, valued at over $160,000, and a gambling trip to New Orleans, according to the his plea agreement.

In exchange for these trips and other gifts, which included meals, concert tickets and tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, Ney had agreed to take numerous official actions on behalf of Abramoff.

Ney will serve his 30-month sentence in a federal prison in Morganstown, W.Va.

Statement from Bob Ney:

Your Honor,

I stand before you today with deep regret. Throughout my 26 years of public service, I was able to help constituents and truly make a difference in people's lives. Because of my actions, I'm no longer able to serve the public in that manner, and for that I take complete responsibility.

I also would like to apologize to my family, friends, and former constituents. I especially regret the pain this ordeal has caused my family. I love them each very much, and I have caused tremendous heartache for them. I hope and pray that with time and love, our family can recover from the damage I have done.

Moving forward, I will continue to take full responsibility for my actions and to battle the demons of addiction. Although my life and career have changed forever, I hope to continue my work helping and serving my community very soon.

January 19, 2007 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (3)

New Digs for Abramoff

November 16, 2006 12:11 PM

Asa Eslocker Reports:

Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff's new home is a minimum-security prison that looks like a suburban high school campus. There are no fences, and inmates can be seen from the road exercising on an outdoor track next to a basketball court and working on landscaping projects without apparent close supervision.

Abramoff left his million-dollar mansion outside of Washington, D.C., before dawn yesterday and checked into the minimum-security Federal Prison Camp deep in Western Maryland coal country. 

Abramoff is living in a two-story cinder block dormitory, in a six-bed cubicle with limited phone privileges.

Federal prosecutors requested Abramoff, who was sentenced to six years for fraud in a Florida casino boat scheme, be incarcerated within driving distance of Washington, D.C., so they could have easier access to the convicted lobbyist who is the key witness in an ongoing federal corruption probe.

Check out Abramoff's Club Fed.

November 16, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (10)

Abramoff's Last E-mail

November 15, 2006 4:57 PM

From Our Sources:

As reported by The Associated Press (E-mail addresses and the timing of his family's visits have been deleted to protect their privacy.):

Subject: My last email for a while

My dear friends,

I hope that you will forgive the impersonal nature of this email. I write this to you on the eve of my incarceration. I am not sure how long I will be in prison, but hope that it is not too long before we have a chance to see each other again.

First, I wanted to thank you for standing by Pam, the kids and me during this very difficult period. Unfortunately, things are going to get worse (starting today no doubt) before they get better, but I am confident that ultimately the turmoil will subside and we will have our lives back. One day, G-D willing, we will know why all of this had to happen. In the meantime, we soldier on, bolstered in no small measure by your friendship.

Several friends have inquired as to how to stay in contact during this next phase. Though I am grateful for this interest and would of course be thrilled by any contact, I hope that no one will feel at all obligated to be in touch during this time. Having said that, here is the situation.

The questions I have been asked revolve around the following topics: mail, visits, telephone and email.

Mail. Mail is probably the easiest way to stay in touch. Unfortunately, this means snail mail through the good old US Post Office. The federal prison system permits inmates to receive letters, photos and periodicals, but thats pretty much it. Unfortunately, if anything else is sent, it will either be destroyed or returned to you. As for letters, please bear in mind that the authorities have the right (and in my case probably will use it) to read all incoming and outgoing mail. Also, I almost certainly will want to write back to you and, since I don't know whether they are going to limit our stamps, envelopes and paper, if possible, perhaps you could include a self addressed, stamped return envelope and even a blank sheet of paper in that envelope. I am not sure that the return envelope will make it to me, but if not, youll know as soon as you get my return letter. In any event, as you can imagine, I will be beyond grateful for any mail from you. Here is my address at the prison:

JACK ABRAMOFF
REGISTER NUMBER: 27593-112
FPC - P.O. BOX 1300
CUMBERLAND, MD 21501-1300

Visits. I am permitted visits by people whose names are submitted to the prison. Those who would be willing to visit must be checked out by the Bureau of Prisons and approved. They will permit me to have only ten persons listed on my visitors list at any one time, so if you are willing to make the trek to Cumberland, please email my attorney, Pam Marple ( ------), Pam Abramoff (---------) or Laura Lippy ( ------) and they will help coordinate. Visiting hours are limited to Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, Sunday mornings and Monday evenings. I anticipate my family visiting on ------days, so we would need to coordinate if you think you can visit me. Also, they permit visits on federal holidays. In any event, please know that I certainly understand that visiting me would be a tremendous hardship and I would in no way be offended if people chose to wait until my release before getting together. By the way, the Bureau of Prisons web site (http://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/cum/index.jsp) has all the rules about visiting.

Telephone. Like visits, telephone contact is also made difficult by the system. They permit up to 30 names on a call list and limit calls to no more than 15 minutes, with a grand total of 300 minutes per month. Thats if you can get to a phone, of course. Like most federal prisons, Cumberland has far more inmates than the prison can hold. There are few phones available and long lines, so the likelihood of our chatting on the phone is not great unfortunately for me. I hope you will forgive me if I am unable to call you during this period, but once I am out, I will only be limited by how long my voice holds up (and time zone considerations). If you need to speak with me, however, please do not hesitate to contact Pam Abramoff or Pam Marple and they will see if it can be arranged. Please bear in mind, though, that I am not permitted to conduct any ongoing business while in prison, and plan to be even stricter on myself than the rules require. Also, like the mail, the authorities have the right to listen to all telephone calls. Thanks.

Email. I saved the easiest topic for last. Simply, there is no email. There is no internet access and there are no computers. If I am lucky, I will have access to an electronic, or possibly manual, typewriter, but even that is not certain. I hope they offer penmanship classes!

In closing, I hope that we will all have a chance to be together after all of this is over. This nightmare has gone on for almost 3 years so far and I expect we are not even half way through. I have learned more lessons in the past 3 years than I have my whole life, and I am hoping that my family and I can see the good in G-Ds plan for us during these times, and gain strength from it. I hope that He blesses you in all your endeavors and keeps you and your family safe.

Yours faithfully,
Jack Abramoff

November 15, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (11)

Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others

November 15, 2006 1:23 PM

Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:

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. 

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)

Convicted Lobbyist Abramoff Reports to Prison

November 15, 2006 10:09 AM

Jason Ryan Reports:

Jack Abramof reported to jail early this morning at 6:30 a.m., according to the following news release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

"On November 15, 2006, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Jack Abramoff arrived at the Federal Prison Camp, Cumberland, Maryland, for service of his sentence. Abramoff was sentenced in the Southern District of Florida to a term of 70 months imprisonment for Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud. Additionally, he was sentenced to a three-year term of supervised release. The Federal Prison Camp, Cumberland, Maryland is a 334-bed minimum security facility located adjacent to the Federal Correctional Institution. The institution is located south of Cumberland, Maryland, approximately 130 miles west of Washington, DC."

November 15, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (7)

DOJ: Abramoff Will Still Cooperate From Prison

November 14, 2006 6:45 PM

Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:

Department of Justice officials "fully expect Jack Abramoff to continue to cooperate with them," and "his reporting to prison tomorrow means nothing," a senior Justice Department spokesman told ABC News.

While prosecutors had originally argued for Abramoff to stay out of jail, the Justice Department is now requesting he report to the Federal Correction Institute in Cumberland, Md., to make it easier "to facilitate that continuing cooperation."

In a recent court filing, federal prosecutors specifically requested Abramoff be sent to the Cumberland facility, "the closest minimum security facility to the District of Columbia," about a two-hour drive from the Justice Department in downtown Washington.

Check out Photos of the Abramoff Scandal Spinning Out of Control.

November 14, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (5)

Abramoff Reports to Prison Tomorrow; Offers Testimony on Democratic Senators

November 14, 2006 4:13 PM

Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:

Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff is scheduled to report to federal prison tomorrow, over the objections of federal prosecutors who say they still need his help to pursue leads on officials he allegedly bribed.

Sources close to the investigation say Abramoff has provided information on his dealings with and campaign contributions and gifts to "dozens of members of Congress and staff," including what Abramoff has reportedly described as "six to eight seriously corrupt Democratic senators."

The sources say Abramoff was about to provide information about Bush administration officials, including Karl Rove, "accepting things of value" from Abramoff.

Rove has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Abramoff.  But the lobbyist visited the White House at least seven times, according to Secret Service logs obtained by Judicial Watch.

Abramoff has been meeting almost daily in secret locations around Washington with Justice Department investigators who are examining thousands of e-mails and documents, according to sources close to the investigation. The convicted lobbyist was spotted in downtown Washington, D.C., yesterday, carrying a computer laptop case.

But the prosecutors' easy access to Abramoff has now ended.

After granting several delays, the federal judge in Florida, who sentenced Abramoff to six years for fraud in a casino boat gambling scheme, has ordered him to report to prison tomorrow.

ABC News has learned that the court has granted a request from prosecutors that Abramoff be incarcerated at the closest prison to Washington, D.C., the Federal Correction Institute in Cumberland, Md., where Abramoff is expected to report tomorrow.

November 14, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (5)

Follow the Bouncing Bribe Scandal: Keeping Tabs on the Abramoff Lobbying Investigation

October 31, 2006 10:48 AM

Paula Cohen Reports:

With another figure in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal beginning an 18-month prison sentence, here's an update on the key players and where the investigation stands:

Jack Abramoff: The once powerful D.C. lobbyist pleaded guilty to bribery and corruption charges last January, but sentencing has been postponed twice to give him more time to cooperate with government investigators. ABC News has learned he's spending "hours and hours" talking to FBI agents and detailing his relationships with dozens of members of Congress. Abramoff is scheduled to begin serving almost six years in prison on Nov. 15 for a separate Florida fraud conviction.  He will go before a federal judge in Washington for sentencing in the bribery case in December.

David Safavian: Former chief of staff of the General Services Administration, Safavian is the only one implicated in the scandal so far who didn't cop a plea; he went to trial and was convicted in federal court last June. Safavian was convicted of accepting lavish favors from Abramoff, including a 2002 golf trip to Scotland, while helping Abramoff make business deals with the GSA. Safavian was sentenced Oct. 27 to 18 months in prison.

Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio): Ney pleaded guilty Oct. 13 on federal charges of conspiracy and making false statements. He lied on financial disclosure forms about the now infamous golf trip to Scotland and also permitted a Syrian businessman to bankroll two gambling trips to London in 2003. Sentencing is scheduled for January. House Republican leaders say they'll move to expel Rep. Ney when Congress reconvenes after the elections, but until then he continues to draw his $165,200-a-year salary.

So far this year, Ney has spent at least $296,500 in campaign funds on legal fees, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Former House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas): DeLay stepped down from Congress to fight unrelated charges of illegal fundraising in Texas. ABC News reported DeLay took numerous trips at Abramoff's expense, including a first-class golf trip to Scotland in 2000; DeLay claimed he was unaware of the "logistics" of paying for that trip. Sources told ABC News that Abramoff was providing details of his dealings with DeLay, but DeLay has not been charged in that investigation.

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.): Sen. Burns received $150,000 in campaign contributions from Abramoff and his clients -- more than any other member of Congress. The money has since been returned to its original donors or given to charity. Abramoff said in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine, "Every appropriation we wanted [from Burns' committee] we got," but Burns says, "I have done nothing wrong," and he has not been charged with any crime.

Ralph Reed: Former director of the Christian Coalition and a business associate of Abramoff's, Reed was tarnished by his Abramoff connection and lost his primary race for lieutenant governor of Georgia. Reed maintains he did not know Abramoff was breaking the law, and he has not been charged with any crime. He and Abramoff are being sued by a Texas Indian tribe that claims they used fraud and racketeering to shut down the tribe's casino, allegedly to benefit an Abramoff client who owned a rival casino.

Michael Scanlon: Scanlon left his job as an aide to then Rep. Tom DeLay to work at Abramoff's lobbying firm. He pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to corruptly influence public officials and is cooperating with the Justice Department.

Tony Rudy: Another former DeLay staffer who went to work for Abramoff, Rudy also pleaded guilty and is cooperating with investigators.

Neil Volz: Rep. Bob Ney's former chief of staff, he admitted conspiring with Abramoff to influence the congressman and is cooperating with investigators. His testimony helped convict David Safavian.

Susan Ralston: A former Abramoff staffer who went to work for White House political strategist Karl Rove, she resigned on Oct. 6 after a Congressional report showed she accepted gifts from Abramoff. A White House spokeswoman said Ralston "did not want to be a distraction to the White House at this important time," a month before midterm elections.

October 31, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (18)

Prison Time for Former Bush Aide in Lobbying Scandal

October 27, 2006 5:08 PM

Jason Ryan and Paula Cohen Report:

A former Bush Administration official convicted in connection with the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

David H. Safavian, the former chief of staff of the General Services Administration, was convicted by a federal jury last spring of obstruction of justice and lying to investigators.  His lawyer says they will appeal.

In court today, Safavian asked the judge for leniency and admitted, "I'm disgusted with myself."  He claimed he'd been manipulated by the powerful lobbyist. 

In happier days, Safavian accepted lavish favors from Abramoff, including a 2002 golf trip to Scotland, while helping Abramoff make business deals with the GSA.

Safavian's case was the first in the Abramoff scandal to go to trial; six others, including Abramoff himself and Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), have entered guilty pleas.

Abramoff's sentencing has been postponed twice while he continues to cooperate with investigators.  As Brian Ross reported on the Blotter, federal law enforcement officials say he has spent "hours and hours" with FBI agents detailing his relationships with dozens of members of Congress. 

Rep. Ney, who also went on the golf trip to Scotland, pleaded guilty earlier this month but did not resign from his seat in Congress.  House Republican leaders say they'll move to expel him when Congress reconvenes after the elections, but until then Ney continues to draw his $165,200-a-year salary.

October 27, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (15)

Congressman Ney Has His Day in Court, Pleads Guilty

October 13, 2006 12:43 PM

Jason Ryan Reports:

Disgraced Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH) pleaded guilty before a federal judge this morning to federal conspiracy and false statement charges, and his attorney said he would be resigning from Congress in a few weeks.

When asked by the judge how he wished to plead, Ney, flanked by his two attorneys, said, "I plead guilty, Your Honor."

It took Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle nine minutes to read through all of the corrupt activities Ney engaged in from 2000 through 2004. She read to him from a signed factual proffer which covered his dealings with Jack Abramoff and others, including lavish golf trips to Scotland, outings to New Orleans and Lake George and thousands of dollars in meals and drinks at Abramoff's restaurant, Signatures.

Ney also accepted campaign contributions from Abramoff and tickets to Washington, D.C., sporting events. In addition, he inserted comments into the Congressional Record for Abramoff's associates who were also involved in the conspiracy.

Ney's corruption extended beyond the Abramoff deals and involved cash payments from a Syrian businessman who bankrolled two gambling trips to London in 2003. The businessman was seeking to sell U.S. aircraft and aircraft parts to Iran.

After receiving gambling chips and pocketing almost $47,000 from the trip, Ney contacted the State Department to inquire about doing business in Iran for the businessman and getting the businessman a U.S. visa.

In a paper statement released after the hearing, Ney said, "While I have tried my best during my 12 years in Congress to serve the country in bipartisan ways, I have made mistakes of judgment...I allowed myself get too comfortable with the way things have been done in Washington for too long."

Ney's statement also mentions his recent treatment for alcohol abuse. "I have more work to do to deal with my alcohol dependency."

Ney's attorney Mark Tuohey said Ney plans to resign from Congress in a matter of weeks.

October 13, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (4)

Congressman Ney Pleads Guilty to Accepting Lavish Gifts, Cites Alcohol Dependency

September 15, 2006 12:23 PM

Pierre Thomas and Maddy Sauer Report:

Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH) has agreed to plead guilty to accepting lavish gifts from lobbyists, including Jack Abramoff, in exchange for taking official action at Abramoff's request.

Ney has admitted to accepting luxurious trips from Abramoff, including a golf trip to Scotland, valued at over $160,000, and a gambling trip to New Orleans, according to the plea agreement.

In exchange for these trips and other gifts, which include meals, concert tickets and tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, Ney agreed to take numerous official actions on behalf of Abramoff. Those actions included supporting or opposing legislation as Abramoff's request, inserting two statements into the Congressional record and supporting a license for one of Abramoff's other clients involving a multi-million dollar contract, according to the plea agreement.

Congressman Ney issued a statement saying that the plea will enable him to accept responsibility for what he has done.

"I have gone through a great deal of soul searching recently, and I have come to recognize that dependence on alcohol has been a problem for me," Ney said. "I am not making any excuses, and I take full responsibility for my actions."

Ney is the most powerful of Abramoff's co-conspirators to plead guilty following Abramoff's own guilty plea in January. Ney's former chief of staff, Neil Volz, pleaded guilty to bribery and corruption charges earlier this year.

In the agreement, Ney agrees to plead guilty to a criminal information charge, including conspiracy to commit multiple offenses, including honest services fraud, making false statements and violations of his former chief of staff's one-year lobbying ban and with making false statements to the U.S. House of Representatives.

He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $500,000.

Read the Justice Department's Press Release on Rep. Ney's Plea Deal.

Read Rep. Ney's Plea Agreement.

Read the Factual Basis behind Rep. Ney's Plea - See page 4 for the facts on Ney's trip to Scotland.

Read the Statement by Rep. Ney's Lawyers.

September 15, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (10)

Jail Time for Abramoff Put Off ... Again

September 06, 2006 12:18 PM

Jason Ryan Reports:

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.

September 6, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (2)

Congressman Ney Does Scotland

June 01, 2006 11:00 AM

Avni Patel Reports:

The chartered jet to Scotland was $91,000. (Click to see actual document.) Rounds of golf at Gleneagles were $400. The food and the rooms were first class.

But when Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH) officially reported the trip he took with lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the total cost of $3,200 was purposely understated, according to a former aide's testimony. (Click on $3,200 to see actual document.)

Former Ney staffer Neil Volz made the allegations during the trial of another public official, David Safavian, who was also on the Abramoff trip.

Volz, who left Ney's staff to work for Abramoff, says that Abramoff and his team helped Ney complete Congressional travel disclosure forms so they "would pass the smell test" if reporters examined them.

A spokesman for Ney, Brian Walsh, denied that Abramoff was involved in filing Ney's travel forms but acknowledged the figures Ney used were provided by Abramoff

June 1, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (10)

How Abramoff Did It; First Photos Made Public

May 30, 2006 7:24 PM

Brian Ross Reports:

Photos of one of the infamous Jack Abramoff golf junkets to Scotland were made public in federal court Tuesday.

Abramoff, a former lobbyist who has pleaded guilty to bribery charges, says he used such extravagant trips to get officials to take action on behalf of his clients.

Included in the photos is Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH), who law enforcement officials say is facing possible indictment. Ney has denied any wrongdoing.

Link: Click here to see the flight manifest of this golfing trip.

Link: Click here to see mention of Rep. Bob Ney, R-OH, joining in on the Jack Abramoff-funded golfing trip to St. Andrews golf course in Scotland.

Link: Click here to read the itinerary for the golfing trip to Scotland.

May 30, 2006 in Abramoff Lobbying Scandal | Permalink | User Comments (42)