NYT: Lobbyist Is Said to Discuss Plea and Testimony

[Patsy Stone]

By ANNE E. KORNBLUT
Published: December 21, 2005

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 - Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates, people with detailed knowledge of the case say.

Mr. Abramoff is believed to have extensive knowledge of what prosecutors suspect is a wider pattern of corruption among lawmakers and Congressional staff members. One participant in the case who insisted on anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations described him as a "unique resource."

Other people involved in the case or who have been officially briefed on it said the talks had reached a tense phase, with each side mindful of the date Jan. 9, when Mr. Abramoff is scheduled to stand trial in Miami in a separate prosecution.

What began as a limited inquiry into $82 million of Indian casino lobbying by Mr. Abramoff and his closest partner, Michael Scanlon, has broadened into a far-reaching corruption investigation of mainly Republican lawmakers and aides suspected of accepting favors in exchange for legislative work.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/21/politics/21abramoff.html?hp&ex=1135141200&en=2d88f262e6989e1e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[WestHoustonDem]

1. Just think this could be

Fitzmas times 80!

[stop the bleeding]

2. The preview screen did not show that you were posting this-

your thread was up here 1 minute before this one:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1999289

Sorry I did not see it on the preview screen.

K&R

[Patsy Stone]

8. As long as this wonderful news gets out there

we can use any thread you want! :toast:

[Grateful for Hope]

3. This is going to get interesing!

:popcorn:

[aquart]

4. Merry Christmas, you greedy bastards!

There is a curse, may you be successful and possess a mansion of a thousand rooms, and may you go from each bed in each room, night after night after night, and never find a moment's peace or a minute's sleep.

For what they have heartlessly, cruelly, criminally forced the people of this nation and others to endure.

May all the evil they've done come back to them, from every place it has gone, from everyone it has harmed.

Sweet dreams.

[stop the bleeding]

5. Abramoff said to discuss plea deal - Look at what kpete put in GD -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5653104


Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist under criminal investigation, has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against former political and business associates, people with detailed knowledge of the case say, The New York Times will report. (Full story available to registered members here.

#
Mr. Abramoff is believed to have extensive knowledge of what prosecutors suspect is a wider pattern of corruption among lawmakers and Congressional staff members. One participant in the case who insisted on anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations described him as a "unique resource."

Other people involved in the case or who have been officially briefed on it said the talks had reached a tense phase, with each side mindful of the date Jan. 9, when Mr. Abramoff is scheduled to stand trial in Miami in a separate prosecution.

What began as a limited inquiry into $82 million of Indian casino lobbying by Mr. Abramoff and his closest partner, Michael Scanlon, has broadened into a far-reaching corruption investigation of mainly Republican lawmakers and aides suspected of accepting favors in exchange for legislative work.

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Abramoff_said_to_discuss_plea_deal_1220.html

[johncoby2]

6. I think I just got a woody.

[WestHoustonDem]

9. Allen, Harrelson or Woodpecker? n/t

[amitten]

16. I know I did. And I'm a woman.

:bounce:

[Patsy Stone]

23. LOL!

And your signature is hysterical. :toast:

[amitten]

24. Why thank you.

It's from the Simpsons, y'know. Can you guess the scene? Anyone? Anyone?

[johnfunk]

7. Another story you won't find at the top of the Drudge "Report"

DeLay, Reed, Ney:

[mike_c]

12. must... have... a jesus juice avatar....

Oh I must!

[monobrau]

14. Merry Christmas, indeed

JA saw the writing on the wall when Scanlon rolled.
If you've seen the memos between them, you can see that a jury would be ready to tar and feather them when the trial is over.
What's truly pathetic is that this guy will bring down his buddies rather than offing himself, which would be the only honorable thing to do.
Between the mob and the white house, I'd imagine there's a pretty good price on his greasy head right now.

[SpiralHawk]

10. Abramhoff is a "unique resource"

love it. Squeal you crooked piggie, you, squeeeeaaaallllll.

[Patsy Stone]

13. It is a well-turned phrase

for sure! :woohoo:

[mike_c]

11. prosecutors don't cut deals with the biggest fish on the line....

This is gonna get good. It's going to be a nervous new year among the culture of corruption.

[understandinglife]

15. K&R. It's happening ....

Peace.

[Patsy Stone]

19. Sure looks like it

Doesn't it? :hi:

[spindrifter]

17. Where the heck did his money go?

Did he actually use it all living the high life? I think he did not. Rather, I believe he wants as short a sentence rec. as he can squeeze out of the AUSA and I bet he doesn't really want to hear some of the potential testimony that is out there.

[Lindsay]

18. To me, the most pleasant surprise

was this phrase:

mainly Republican lawmakers

Until now, it's been "both parties guilty."

[Patsy Stone]

20. This is the first I've noticed The Wives Club

"...and at the role the wives of several lobbyists and lawmakers may have had in any influence scheme, a piece of the puzzle that investigators have begun referring to privately as the 'wives' club."

Anyone know anything about this?

[Lexingtonian]

21. the Abramoff firms

hired the wives of some Pubbie Congressmen and DeLay aides for various lengths of time. Legal graft, basically.

[Patsy Stone]

22. Very nice --

and it kept them off the streets and out of the house, too. He paid them to keep their wives busy? Bonus. :)

[MagickMuffin]

25. Here's a Great Article about the Texas' Wives Club Memeber

Richard Cullen, an attorney for the DeLays, said Christine DeLay was hired by Buckham, an old family friend, to determine the favorite charity of every member of Congress. She was paid $3,200 to $3,400 a month for three years, or about $115,000 total, he said.

"It wasn't like she did this 9 to 5, but it was an ongoing project," Cullen said, noting her work was commensurate with the project and had nothing to do with her husband or any official congressional business. "This was something that she found to be very interesting, very ... worthwhile."

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/front/3484962

[Patsy Stone]

26. Thanks for that.

It's hard enough trying to keep track of the heavy black dotted lines, let alone the light grey ones, in this story.

[MagickMuffin]

27. Duped

[MagickMuffin]

28. Your Welcome

I would find it worthwhile to if I was paid between $3200-$3400, a month for who even knows how many hours she "worked", we know it wasn't a 9-5 job.:eyes:

[BR_Parkway]

31. She was probably asking them at the fundraisers and cocktail

parties.

Damn, I hope she slept with someone at one of those parties, then they could charge her with prostitution - which all of them were doing - selling themselves for money.

[Patsy Stone]

40. At least maybe if there's oral sex involved

someone will take notice. :)

[salin]

32. long and great article "Making Sense of the Abromoff Scandal"

discusses key people - overlapping issue - and various wives, hired as "consultants" or otherwise put on projects payrolls are discussed - but in the context of the article (that is, there is no special section on wives... one has to read the whole article - but it is well worth the read.)

http://www.alternet.org/story/29827/

[wellst0nev0ter]

29. Republican Party, We Harely Knew Ye!

:toast:

[Up2Late]

30. Mr. Abramoff has also told associates that he is broke...,

Oh brother, :eyes: maybe he should ask Mr Scanlon for a loan, he was the "Money Man," I think he might be holding $20 to $40Million dollars for you. :banghead:

[Patsy Stone]

33. Lawyer bills add up

It's hard work being involved in so much corruption, and it's expensive, too. :eyes:

[WhiteTara]

34. roll over Jack...

let the indictments begin and the impeachment take root in the hearts and minds of ALL citizens. :woohoo: :applause:

[cantstandbush]

35. I bet they DIDN't spy on Abramoff!

If he is a "unique resource" he needs to be sent to GITMO. How do we know he wasn't dealing with some terrorists along the way?

[SharonRB]

36. Ya beat me to it, Pats

Just saw this on RawStory and was getting ready to post, but found yours when I checked to see if someone had already done it.

:popcorn:

[Patsy Stone]

37. It's be so done.

There are at least three threads. As great as this news is, there should be 50! :)

[RagingInMiami]

38. Lobbyist Abramoff lawyers in plea talks with feds, source says

WASHINGTON -- Lawyers for Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff are in discussions with the Justice Department about his possible cooperation in a congressional corruption probe, a person involved in the investigation said Tuesday night.

The probe involves a number of members of Congress as well as staff. A former aide to ex-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, has already pleaded guilty.

Abramoff would plead guilty under an arrangement that would settle a criminal case against him in Florida as well as potential corruption charges in Washington, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.

The person describing the ongoing discussions said they have been going on "a long time, months." Only in the past week or so have they come "close to any kind of fruition," the person said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-1221abramoff,0,1921643.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[donkeyotay]

39. To Abramoff's long list of scandal, add being connected to cifa

The moves have taken place on several fronts. The White House is considering expanding the power of a little-known Pentagon agency called the Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA, which was created three years ago. The proposal, made by a presidential commission, would transform CIFA from an office that coordinates Pentagon security efforts -- including protecting military facilities from attack -- to one that also has authority to investigate crimes within the United States such as treason, foreign or terrorist sabotage or even economic espionage.

From a previous post by FormerRepublican:

Perhaps the prime illustration of the Pentagon's Intelligence growth is CIFA, which remains one of its least publicized intelligence agencies...the agency's mission is to "transform" the way counterintelligence is done by "fully utilizing 21st century tools and resources."

One CIFA activity, threat assessments, involves using "leading edge information technologies and data harvesting,"...with the help of outside contractors including White Oak Technologies Inc... and MZM
end>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20...

The article is no longer available. White Oak's Broder was a donor to Abramoff's Capital Athletic Foundation, and MZM is of Cunningham scandal fame. Who is going to keep us safe from the people keeping us safe?

[Can o Beans]

41. Abramoff likely to flip, testify

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/21/AR2005122100106_pf.html

[deadmessengers]

42. In other news...

Every store in Washington sells out of Depends simultaneously, as Republicans develop a sudden inability to maintain bowel control.

[liberalnurse]

43. He will sing like the Three Tenors!

He best be held in a country of an undisclosed location. He is saving his ass literally! Wittiness Protection may not even be safe enough. Regardless, I'm please he has rolled.

[Warpy]

44. I don't trust him

He strikes me as a zealot and a man who is impossible to intimidate.

My guess is that he'll flip on Democrats and moderate Repugs.

I hope I'm wrong. I hope the subpoena of Wilkes's records has finally put enough of a scare into him that he does flip.

This bunch is rotten to their very marrow. They'll always look for a way to cheat.

[laststeamtrain]

45. No honor among...etc. n/t

[nickgutierrez]

46. He basically just admitted guilt.

So, the question becomes, who does he take down with him?

The obvious answer is Tom DeLay... but we never really know 'til it happens, do we?

[Patsy Stone]

47. DeLay and Bob Ney

Rove, the RNC, and all the other little Congresscritters who like to golf in Scotland. The list goes on and on. This is a complicated web of corruption. Just you wait.

[nickgutierrez]

48. Oh yeah, I've heard of Abramoff's network

But, you know, I wonder how many of them are actually going down. Nobody's going to get them all in one swoop, sadly.

[Patsy Stone]

49. TFH moment?

I think all these investigation, already intertwined by the players, may end up overlapping legally as well. The redistricting, the money-laundering, Coingate, election night shenanigans, and Plamegate all related to the same bunch of crooks -- if you have the correct dotted line. In my best fantasies, they all come together. :tinfoilhat:

[0007]

50. Jack is broke? Wives club to help the agenda? MFG!!

Mr. Abramoff has also told associates that he is broke, making the prospect of an extended jury trial even less appealing. Cough, cough... Maybe Jack can borrow a buck or two from the ladies club?

Prosecutors are also looking at how some former Congressional staff members landed their lucrative lobbying positions and at the role the wives of several lobbyists and lawmakers may have had in any influence scheme, a piece of the puzzle that investigators have begun referring to privately as the "wives' club."

[caligirl]

53. Stepford wives, it is so GOP.

[caligirl]

51. where is Ken Mehlman in all this. Not talking to the press on this?

[Patsy Stone]

52. He's up to his eyeballs in this whole thing

Abramoff funneled at least $100K to Mehlman's BushCo campaign. If I were him, I'd stay low and avoid saying anything on the public record. Of course, that just means he'll probably be making the talk show circuit next week. :)