DNC Chairman Howard Dean Renews Call on Bush to Return Abramoff Funds

[madfloridian]

(He issued the first call just before the press conference last night)

http://www.democrats.org/news/200504290005.html
Apr 29, 2005

DNC Chairman Howard Dean Renews Call on President Bush to Return All Funds from "Pioneer" Jack Abramoff and Sever Ties
Washington, DC - DNC Chairman, Governor Howard Dean, issued the following statement:

"How can President Bush talk about a 'Reform Agenda' when he refuses to return all funds from Jack Abramoff and sever all ties? Someone facing numerous charges of corruption shouldn't be just a phone call away from the President of the United States of America. It's that simple. President Bush should return Abramoff's money immediately."

George W. Bush and Jack Abramoff:
So Happy Together

Recently, ethics charges and investigations have swirled involving beltway power-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who has direct ties to Bush and his White House. Abramoff, a Bush Administration transition member, boasted how close he was to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He bragged how easy it was to raise money for the President, even as he was arranging to turn his White House connections to his advantage—and the Bush White House has been happy to oblige.

Jack Abramoff Has Close Ties to the Bush White House

Abramoff Is A DC Insider And Has Strong Pull With The Bush White House. Those close to Abramoff boast that he is a phone call away from the President. "Jack has a relationship with the President," Abramoff's spokesman and fellow lobbyist Michael Scanlon said. "He doesn't have a bat phone or anything, but if he wanted an appointment, he would have one."

Abramoff Arranged White House Meeting at in Exchange for Donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform. A lawyer for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian tribe in Michigan revealed that tribal leaders had "three or four" meetings at the White House—including one with Bush and another with Rove—after they gave a $25,000 donation to Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform at Jack Abramoff's request. ATR later confirmed that Norquist arranged White House meetings for Indian tribal leaders and others who were "supportive of the president's agenda."

Jack Abramoff Advised Department of Interior Transition. Abramoff advised the Interior Department during the Bush transition.

Bush Has Done Favors For Abramoff

Bush White House Blocked Construction Of Casino By Rival Tribe Of Abramoff Client. The Coushatta Indians of Louisiana paid Abramoff's former law firm, Greenberg Traurig, $1.76 million "in the last sixth months of 2001." A month after Greenberg Traurig received the payment, the Bush White House blocked a rival tribe's attempt to construct a casino near the Coushatta casino. "William Worfel, vice chairman of the Coushattas, views the administration's decision as a direct benefit of the eye-popping lobbying fees his tribe paid Mr. Abramoff."

Abramoff Has Used White House Connections to His Advantage

Jenna Band of Choctawa Tribe Asked For Casino Near Texas/Louisiana Border. The Jenna Band of Choctawa Tribe asked Governor Mike Foster (R-LA) to allow construction of a casino "close to the Texas state line and an hour from the $300 million-a-year Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, La. The state was to get 15.5 percent of the profits. The Coushattas already vied for customers with nearby non-Indian riverboat casinos and did not want any more competition." The Coushatta tribe is an Abramoff client and a rival tribe of the Jenna Band of Choctawas.

Abramoff Used Network of Evangelicals And Bush Appointee To Lobby For His Client. According to The Washington Post, "Abramoff arranged for Dobson and Reed to pressure federal officials to reject the Jenas' bid on anti-gambling grounds. He and his partners drafted anti-Jena letters that were then signed by congressional leaders, some of whom have received thousands of dollars in donations from tribes represented by Abramoff. One ally inserted language opposing the casino into a bill late in the legislative process."

Lobbying Network Involved Bush Administrator. According to The Washington Post, "in an attempt to influence the Interior Department — which has the final say on a tribe's gambling ambitions — Abramoff directed his tribal clients to give at least $225,000 to the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, a conservative group that was founded by Gale A. Norton before President Bush chose her to be his interior secretary.

Dobson Aid Wrote Letter To White House. According to The Washington Post, One of Dobson's top aides, Tom Minnery, wrote to Norton saying Louisiana 'already has an alarming number of gaming establishments' — a letter he copied to White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. The Interior Department's White House liaison, Doug Domenech, sounded the alarm."

Much more on Bush and Abramoff here