Reply #12: Delays close friend Abramoff Cited Aid Of Interior Official

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Tom Delay considers Jack Abramoff to be one of his closest and loyal friends.

Indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff claimed in e-mails sent in 2002 that the deputy secretary of the interior had pledged to block an Indian casino that would compete with one of the lobbyist's tribal clients. Abramoff later told two associates that he was trying to hire the official.

A federal task force investigating Abramoff's activities has conducted interviews and obtained documents from Interior Department officials and Abramoff associates to determine whether conflict-of-interest laws were violated, according to people with knowledge of the probe.

It can be a federal crime for government officials to negotiate for a job while being involved in decisions affecting the potential employer.

Abramoff, who is out on $2.25 million bond and is also to be arraigned next week in Miami in the casino fleet case.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...