Why Abramoff Didn't Say "Cheese" for Vanity Fair

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonian.com/inwashington/buzz/2006/0317.html

Why Abramoff Didn't Say "Cheese" for Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair’s April article on Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff was a mix of some new information and lots of old stuff. It had already been reported here and other places that President Bush and Abramoff had discussed weight-lifting, a part of the article Vanity Fair’s publicists tried to offer as fresh information.

One bit of information the article didn’t reveal: Photographer Annie Leibovitz initially had Abramoff’s permission to do a photo shoot at his Silver Spring home. Abramoff, who grew up in Beverly Hills, was excited about being photographed by the high-profile Leibovitz and tried for weeks to lose weight in anticipation of the shoot.

But a day before Leibovitz’s scheduled arrival in late February, Abramoff was told by prosecutors that the photo shoot had to be canceled. Sources say Abramoff’s minders are concerned about maintaining his “dignity” as a federal witness. Posing for Vanity Fair, they feared, could lessen his credibility and expose him to charges from defense attorneys that he is reveling in his notoriety.

Sources say the prosecutors weren’t thrilled about the interview by Vanity Fair’s David Margolick, but they approved the quotes that went into the article—which could be why some the of the article sounds flat.

[KoKo]

1. Oh lordie....sounds like something that

could be on Rita Cosby's show. Abramoff getting "buff" for his Vanity Fair article with famed Leibovitz and has to cancel because it "would look right." Rita should do a "sob story interview" with him about how his "rights" to more fame and photo op glory are being hurt because of this investigation. We could all see photos of his five children that Margolick was so worried about the indictment hurting and we could shed lots of tears for how brave Abramoff is and couragous for having to turn down what would have been an incredible opportunity. :eyes:

[KoKo]

2. Kick !

:kick: