Former DeLay aide pleads guilty in conspiracy case

[Judi Lynn]

Posted 11/21/2005 4:56 PM Updated 11/21/2005 5:11 PM



Scanlon (right) arrives Monday
in U.S. District Court in
Washington to enter his guilty
plea.

Haraz N. Ghanbari, AP


Former DeLay aide pleads guilty in conspiracy case
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Scanlon, a former partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to bribe public officials, a charge growing out of the government investigation of attempts to defraud Indian tribes and corrupt a member of Congress.

Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle and agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes.

Scanlon, who is expected to cooperate in the investigation of Abramoff and members of Congress, could face up to five years in prison.

Outside the courthouse, Scanlon attorney Plato Cacheris said his client "is regretful for what happened to the tribes" and is trying to do what is right by cooperating with the investigation.
(snip/...)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-11-21-scanlon_x.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Ex-DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy

Ex-DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy
Former DeLay Aide Michael Scanlon Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy to Defraud Indian Tribes


Michael Scanlon, left, a former partner of lobbyist Jack Abramoff arrives at the U.S. District Court, Monday, Nov. 21, 2005, in Washington. Scanlon, also an ex-spokesman for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, was to appear before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle. The government accused Scanlon on Friday of conspiring with Abramoff to defraud Indian tribes and engage in a corrupt scheme that lavished trips, sports tickets and campaign donations on a member of Congress, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
By PETE YOST Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Nov 21, 2005 — Michael Scanlon, a former partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to bribe public officials, a charge growing out of the government investigation of attempts to defraud Indian tribes and corrupt a member of Congress.

Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle and agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes.

Scanlon, who is expected to cooperate in the investigation of Abramoff and members of Congress, could face up to five years in prison.

Outside the courthouse, Scanlon attorney Plato Cacheris said his client "is regretful for what happened to the tribes" and is trying to do what is right by cooperating with the investigation.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1334552

[Up2Late]

25. Hey! I posted this almost an hour before this one, WTF?

:wtf: Who's To Blame! Who's To Blame!

Sorry, it's just become so common to point blame these days...

[maximovich]

2. Why is He Smiling?

George gonna pardon this scumbag too?

[MADem]

15. He probably has already flipped, and given up the goods! nt

[0007]

52. Perhaps that's the office to DeLay & pals.....who know?

But they all do have a shit eating grin on their mugs. Even Libby!

[petepillow]

23. it's the 'delay mugshot' strategy. very in style these days...

[rodeodance]

28. one never knows!!!

[A Simple Game]

50. The question is: who is the smile for?

Lyrics for: Smiling Faces Sometimes

Smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend
Smiling faces show no traces of the evil that lurks within
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes
They don't tell the truth, huh
Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof

The truth is in the eyes
Cause the eyes don't lie, amen
Remember a smile is just
A frown turned upside down
My friend let me tell you
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes
They don't tell the truth, huh
Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof
Beware, beware of the handshake
That hides the snake
I'm telling you beware
Beware of the pat on the back
It just might hold you back
Jealousy (Jealousy)
Misery (Misery)
Envy

I tell you, you can't see behind smiling faces
Smiling faces sometimes they don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof

Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes
They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof
(Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes)(2 x's)
I'm telling you beware, beware of the handshake
That hides the snake
Listen to me now, beware
Beware of that pat on the back
It just might hold you back
Smiling faces, smiling faces sometimes
They don't tell the truth
Smiling faces, smiling faces
Tell lies and I got proof

Your enemy won't do you no harm
Cause you'll know where he's coming from
Don't let the handshake and the smile fool ya
Take my advice I'm only try' to school ya

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. Watch this guy

He's going to be the one on which everything turns. That Safavian guy, too, but Scanlon is the one.

Mark my words. I got a big feeling about this one.

Forget Patrick Fitzgerald.

Watch this guy.

[Mr Rabble]

19. Good call OLL. Watch the dominoes start to fall. nt

[stepnw1f]

30. Well.. Happy Fitzgiving Anyway (nt)

[Media_Lies_Daily]

51. "Forget Patrick Fitzgerald"?? Right. Whatever you say.

[King Coal]

60. Noted OldLefty, you're on the books.

Is your proboscis proboscising something?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

68. Indeed, Kingie

This one is more difficult to follow and not nearly as sexy as the White House/Plame thing.

Remember the old "Godfather" line?

"Follow the money."

I'm guessing that Fitzgerald won't indict anyone in the Plame matter - if for no other reason than that law is hideously drafted and almost impossible to prove its violation.

However, the Abramoff matter is all about money and access. That's what Washington runs on, and that's where the story is. This whole thing is much more complicated for regular people to follow, but, believe me, it's worth watching - closely.

Follow the money.

[Blaq Dem]

4. I've never heard of an 'honest' republican

[Up2Late]

5. Ex-DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy (AP)

(Well if CNN is going to take so long to update, let's go with the AP instead. I like that they used the "C" word!)

Ex-DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy

By PETE YOST
The Associated Press
Monday, November 21, 2005; 4:40 PM

WASHINGTON -- Michael Scanlon, a former partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to bribe public officials, a charge growing out of the government investigation of attempts to defraud Indian tribes and corrupt a member of Congress.

Scanlon, a former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle and agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes.

Scanlon, who is expected to cooperate in the investigation of Abramoff and members of Congress, could face up to five years in prison. Outside the courthouse, Scanlon attorney Plato Cacheris said his client "is regretful for what happened to the tribes" and is trying to do what is right by cooperating with the investigation.

The charge was in a criminal information filed Friday accusing Scanlon of conspiring with Abramoff to defraud Indian tribes and engage in a corrupt scheme that lavished trips, sports tickets and campaign donations on a member of Congress, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio.

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/21/AR2005112100719.html>
(more at link above)

CNN Reporting: Lobbyist Scanlon Pleads Guilty in deal with Government
Not on website yet, just reported on CNN TV

Should be at this link soon: <http://www.cnn.com/>

[Brundle_Fly]

6. bahahhahaa

they must have a really decent case to turn such a vile subhuman to eat his own.

good, god speed fine prosecutors.

[SteppingRazor]

8. Oh, I dunno... I think these guys will "eat their own" fairly easily...

Ever hear the old saying "no honor among thieves"?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

21. Scanlon's got a history

He was a birdie just waiting to be caged.

This is excellent.

Pass the popcorn. Fitzgerald will, most likely, play second chair to this one.

[Cactus44]

7. Ohhhh, this ought to be juicy!!

GO Fitzy, go!!

[Shakespeare]

9. This is not part of Fitzgerald's investigation. n/t

[afdip]

10. more people have been hung by the tongue than by the rope.......

[warrens]

11. On NPR this morning, too

They arranged a plea bargain before he was arrested. He was looking at heavy time, like 20 years for fraud. This has got to have Mr. Abramoff and his friends very, very nervous.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

20. Check out Scanlon's history

He's perfect - for the prosecutors.

[jamesinca]

12. Bye bye Tommy boy

If Ronnie Earle don't get him, this will!!! DeLay is going down one way or the other. Fitz, get busy and we can hit the trifecta.

[David Zephyr]

13. Mr. Delay won't sleep well tonight: "Scanlon is expected to cooperate"

"Scanlon, who is expected to cooperate in the investigation of Abramoff and members of Congress."

Ralph Reed is involved in all of this, too.

[swimboy]

14. Ha ha! Magically delicious! n/t

[Lerkfish]

16. he has an extra $19 million laying around?

damn, being crooked is lucrative.

:)

[Lindsay]

17. It's lucrative if you're connected to high-powered Repugs,

anyway.

And Abramoff is connected all kinds of ways.

I am SO looking forward to all this.

[Canuckistanian]

39. That's what I was thinking

I have to pay 19mil? Oh, well, I guess that'd be OK.....

How do I get his old job?

[AlCzervik]

18. If he isn't singing about Delay i'll eat a Moonie Times, starting with the

editorial page.

[PhilipShore]

22. Bloomberg: Scanlon Pleads Guilty, Cooperates in Abramoff Probe (Update2)

Bloomberg
Nov. 21

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aM0MEONh7DpE&refer=us

``They're using Scanlon to get everybody,'' said Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who now heads Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, an advocacy group. ``That's how it works. You keep rolling people. I'm sure Tom DeLay is unhappy today to hear Michael Scanlon has made a deal.''

[Divernan]

24. If jr. partner scammed $19 million, how much did Abramoff take?

And this was just from one client/the tribes; they had LOTS of clients. Now, many of those millions were handed out to / spent on Reps and Senators - and how many of them "forgot" to declare it as income/campaign donations/whatever? Hope they don't get by with simply filing amended returns.

[Patsy Stone]

26. On CNN.com, but, of course, not the top story...

That honor belongs to a story about a big aquarium, filed two hours prior to this story -- at least this is the case at 6:52 p.m. Oy.

[rodeodance]

27. DeLay in court Tues---tomorrow---wants charges dismissed.

DeLay, who relinquished his post as House minority leader after a separate indictment in Texas, is due in court in Austin Tuesday for a hearing seeking dismissal of conspiracy and money laundering charges.

[Patsy Stone]

29. I wish him no luck in his attempt.

Hi, rodeodance! :hi:

[rodeodance]

31. Hi back to you

[Tight_rope]

48. Yeah and people in hell want water too!

[lonestarnot]

57. Fat fucking chance for this!

[LibertyorDeath]

45. big aquarium

The most trusted name in snooze :)

[Patsy Stone]

47. Bright... Shiny... Objects... n/t

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

55. Snarf!

Love that picture. George W. Hitlerbush as a Teletubby!

[understandinglife]

32. Check the photo as he exits the Federal Court House:

Stephen Crowley/The New York Times

Michael Scanlon agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes and faces up to five years in prison.

The dude is cuff'd.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/21/politics/21cnd-scanlon.html?hp

Keep singing Michael ....


Peace.

[SharonRB]

33. I hope they have him in protective custody

He shouldn't fly in any small planes, ride in or drive a car...you know the drill. He should be very, very careful.

[understandinglife]

34. Well, he's going to be tucked away in a federal prison for up to 5 yrs ...

... not sure how safe that will be :evilgrin:


Peace.

[SharonRB]

36. Will he be locked up right away?

[understandinglife]

61. Sentence is currently "suspended" as he continues to cooperate with ...

... the prosecution.


Peace.

[Divernan]

40. He'll be in a low security Club Fed; prisoners dress in "resort casual"

not even uniforms. I had to take a deposition of a lawyer doing time for defrauding his clients' trust accounts - lost their money playing the futures in the stock market. The prisoners lived in little "cottages" and could walk about the grounds ( which were very nicely landscaped) at will. He had a different support group meeting most nights of the week - Gamblers Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc. His regular bridge partner was former West Virginia Governor, Arch Moore.

Scanlon stole at least $19 million. Think about the comparatively low street value of drugs that gets other Americans doing very hard time in very nasty prisons.

It's not much of a punishment, but at least Abramoff's partner won't be out ripping off clients for awhile; if he's a licensed lawyer or CPA, he'll lose his license. And I hope there will be a lot of his colleages with him around the bridge table.

[Lasher]

64. Arch Moore's daughter

Did you know that the stinking criminal Arch Moore has a daughter who is now West Virginia's only repug member of the House? That's right, Smelly Snore Capito is Arch's daughter. The nut never falls far from the tree. She has received a boatload of DeLay's dirty ARMPAC money. Unlike some others, she has refused to give it back.

I sure would like to see her kicked out of office next year.

[lumpy]

62. God, I hope he does time.

So many of these parasites get off too easy.

[Lasher]

65. Take your pick, him or DeLay

OK, I know that's a false dilemma. But the good news is, he's obviously agreed to sing like a canary to avoid jail time. Let's hope said singing will incriminate someone besides himself, like it was when Olliver North got off the hook.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hotler]

37. Just the tip, wish we could get Cheney. eom.

[DemoVet]

38. What Cacheris really meant

"Outside the courthouse, Scanlon attorney Plato Cacheris said his client 'is regretful for getting caught bribing officials and sticking it to the tribes' and is trying to save his lily-white ass from the sentence he deserves by cooperating with the investigation and ratting out as many others as he can."

[natrat]

41. what an idiot-that big smile not doing him any good

[BREMPRO]

42. smiling pubs

Repubs always seem to smile when they are busted. Must be some form of mind control they learn from the Cabal- "thank you sir may i have another", or the non-verbal form of NEWSPEAK. War is Peace. Crime is Altruism

[toymachines]

43. I really need to get my brain around this one

time for some major research.

[DanCa]

44. One down so many to go.

[LibertyorDeath]

46. Yes !! Hope he hangs Delay out to dry the MF.

[Vinca]

49. This is going to make Plame seem like the good old days.

If this guy sings about all the people known to be involved, it could get very interesting. (Picture Ralph Reed in an orange jump suit.)

[UpInArms]

53. related: GOP's best friend could be its nightmare

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2002638657_abramoff18.html

WASHINGTON — Lobbyist Jack Abramoff was not at the Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing two weeks ago, but he was the central topic, as Congress continued to probe what some call one of this generation's most outrageous political scandals.

<snip>

"I don't think we have had something of this scope, arrogance and sheer venality in our lifetimes," Norman Ornstein, resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, wrote recently. "It is building to an explosion, one that could create immense collateral damage within Congress and in coming elections."

<snip>

DeLay, who once called Abramoff one of his "closest and dearest friends," has requested a House ethics investigation to clear his name relating to trips he took at Abramoff's expense; DeLay has said he thought other sources paid for the trips.

Christian Coalition founder Ralph Reed, anti-tax guru Grover Norquist, members of Congress, administration officials and a host of lobbyists have been drawn into Senate or Justice Department investigations of Abramoff's lobbying activities.

...more...

Naming names and kicking ass!

Lots of great graphics included at the link

:popcorn:

[dogfacedboy]

54. The more shit splashed on these cockroaches, the better. nt.

[lonestarnot]

56. Oh sure he's regretful alright... because he got caught!

[Maggie_May]

58. This is getting better than

a Soap Opera. The mighty are starting to fall.

[Orrex]

59. Yesterday's All Things Considered

They ran a brief piece on Scanlon's guilty plea with a discussion of what he did wrong and who might be implicated.

Not once, as far as I heard, did they mention that he had been an aide to DeLay. Instead, they focused on Scanlon's connection to Abramoff and the nature of the crimes related to Scanlon's plea.

[donkeyotay]

63. Remember: Susan Ralston, aide to Rove and special assist. to Pretzel

worked for Abramoff and represents a direct line from scum to the office of the president.

[LibertyorDeath]

66. This is getting very interesting

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

[yellowcanine]

67. If I were him I would make sure I stayed out of jail. Quite the pretty

boy.