Breaking: DeLay aide Scanlon Pleads Guilty . . .

[Lex]

FORMER TOM DELAY AIDE MICHAEL SCANLON PLEADS GUILTY IN CONSPIRACY TO BRIBE PUBLIC OFFICIALS

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

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1334465

[Carla in Ca]

1. That 'fat lady' will be singing soon

can't wait to see the list of names...should be a whopper!

[Lex]

4. Names! We want Names!

And amounts too . . .

[dkamin]

2. The foundation is crumbling

The Republican House (and Senate) is gonna come tumbling down.

Try not to get hit by the debris.

[Lex]

3. Another link here

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1334493

[Carla in Ca]

7. Ralph Reed is a good start

This may also get Abramoff to talk as well. I haven't seen anything lately that suggests whether he is talking. Anyone know if he is cooperating?

[Lex]

11. Reed is such a weasel. If they have the goods on him, he'll squeal.

He's just that kind of guy.

[Carla in Ca]

15. Yep, no spine at all

But I'm sure his Christian (Coalition) upbringing will make him do the right thing....right?

[endarkenment]

5. Ooops.

That grin on delay's face better get a botox refresh: he'll be sitting for another mug shot any day now.

[TahitiNut]

6. Yep. A gift that'll keep on giving.

Former Aide to DeLay Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy Case

By DAVID STOUT
Published: November 21, 2005

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 - Michael Scanlon, former aide to a powerful congressman and onetime partner of a wealthy lobbyist, pleaded guilty today to a federal conspiracy charge as part of a deal in which he agreed to cooperate with an investigation into possible wrongdoing by some lawmakers.

Mr. Scanlon's comedown from a young and wealthy Washington power-player to disgraced felon, formalized before Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle of Federal District Court here, had been expected. But it still may have sent shivers down Capitol corridors.

Mr. Scanlon agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes, The Associated Press reported from the courtroom, and could face up to five years in prison.

<snip>

[texpatriot2004]

8. Does he go directly to prison now? I hope he's in protective

custody...not that I care about what happens to him, just the information that he has to share.

[Lex]

9. Seems to me he's cut a deal and is singing, singing, singing . . .

So I hope he's in protective custody too.

[Lex]

10. Scanlon "knows where all the bodies are buried,'' said a congressiona

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aLHX6Q_LZC4A

``It's likely that Abramoff has lots of dirt on Tom DeLay,'' McDonald said. ``The further Abramoff sinks into trouble, the more likely he is to start pitching that dirt.''

[endarkenment]

12. Well now it seems that

while we might be the cut'n'run party they are the cut a deal party.

[Lex]

13. They are the party of "convictions"

as opposed to the party of conviction.

[endarkenment]

14. har!

:rofl:

[hopeisaplace]

16. LOL...great line

[progressoid]

17. Hate to say it but he's only going to spill enough to keep his fat out of

the fire. We aren't going to see the fall of the GOP from this.

[electropop]

18. They say he's been cooperating since July.

He'll have a ton of juicy stuff.

[Ian David]

19. On the second day of Fitzmas, Fitzgerald gave to me..

Scanlon pleading guilty
And an indictment for Scooter Libby!

[Ian David]

20. Maybe he'll use christian radio to "mobilize the wackos" in his defense?

"The wackos get their information through the Christian right, Christian radio, mail, the internet and telephone trees," Scanlon wrote in the memo, which was read into the public record at a hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. "Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them."

More:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/11/03/abramoff/index_np.html

[Ian David]

21. Scanlon Plea May Help Prosecutors Clear Constitutional Hurdle

Scanlon Plea May Help Prosecutors Clear Constitutional Hurdle


Nov. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Former lobbyist Michael Scanlon's cooperation with U.S. Justice Department lawyers in a conspiracy investigation may help them clear a constitutional hurdle that protects lawmakers from prosecution over official acts.

Scanlon's guilty plea yesterday gives prosecutors a witness who may be able to provide evidence that lawmakers worked to pass legislation in exchange for favors, said Jim Cole, a former attorney with the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section. The Justice unit is spearheading the federal probe of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his former associate, Scanlon.

Scanlon's testimony may allow the government to overcome a defense based on the ``speech and debate'' clause of the Constitution, which protects lawmakers from being prosecuted for legislation they introduce or speeches they make in Congress, Cole and other experts said. Scanlon may be able to testify about deals between lawmakers and lobbyists; such quid pro quos wouldn't be protected by the Constitution.

``The speech and debate clause only prevents you from using a legislative act'' as evidence, Cole said. ``The agreement is the crime.''

Scanlon, 35, a former aide to Representative Tom DeLay, told a federal judge yesterday that he conspired to commit fraud against four Indian tribe clients and corrupt public officials. He agreed to pay back $19.7 million in profits from the tribal clients, his share of the $39.4 million he had split with Abramoff, 46.

More:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aWh2N_pjMHwE&refer=us

[Road Scholar]

22. This is bigger than most people realize.

Most republicans (including Hassert) and even a couple of democrats were on the take from Delay and Co.