Who's the Next Target in the Abramoff Probe?

[cal04]

Former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney has admitted his role in Washington's influence-peddling scandal, but prosecutors still have other politicians in their sights

After months of defiant protestations of innocence about his role in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, has pleaded guilty to making false statements, conspiracy to commit fraud and violating post-employment restrictions for former congressional aides. But the probe into the lobbying scandal is far from wrapped up.

A source close to the investigation told TIME that scores of US prosecutors and FBI agents continue to examine the activities of other sitting members of Congress and prominent individuals who could face prosecution, though not necessarily before the November 7 election. The source confirmed previous public reports that particular scrutiny is being paid to Sen. Conrad Burns, a Montana Republican who faces a tough campaign for reelection.

"A lot of the conduct to which Ney has pleaded guilty is similar to the alleged conduct of Senator Conrad Burns and his staff," points out Melanie Sloan, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a non-profit watchdog group. "Abramoff has said that Burns and his staff used Signatures like their cafeteria. And Burns took a number of legislative actions on Abramoff's behalf, even as members of his staff went on trip to the 2001 Super Bowl on private jet and visited Sun Cruise gambling ships, which were partly owned by Abramoff. "Abramoff himself said in an interview earlier this year, "Every appropriation we wanted we got. Our staffs were as close as they could be. They practically used Signatures as their cafeteria. I mean, it's a little difficult for him to run from that record."

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1535551,00.html

[TomInTib]

1. I have no idea but I will bet..

that their are a lot of people in DC who are having trouble with multiple symptoms.

Like trouble with:
sleeping
appetite
continence
knocks on their door
telephone calls to their office from their attorneys
maintaining an erection (even tho I believe that is a chronic 'pub condition)

[WhiteTara]

2. not to mention drinking heavily

during inappropriate times of the day, mood swings and an increase in antidepressants

[TomInTib]

3. Can you imagine how it must be?

I don't know about you, but I have experienced the cold, clammy fear when you realize that you are likely to get nailed for something that you just knew you were gonna skate on.

And just about everyone you know is in on the deal.

You cannot trust anyone. Everybody is singing.

I just cannot wait.

[WhiteTara]

4. I'm loving all the visuals I get

from their sweating and squirming and denying and protesting and trying to find the right way to get someone to believe them.
:popcorn: want some?

[TomInTib]

6. Got some

the early first cut of Humboldt has come out.

[WhiteTara]

9. Well la for you

I'll have to look up some friends here and check out their scene. :party:

[Greeby]

5. Hey

Maybe that's how we win the House, just hope that enough Repukes get indicted :think:

[cmd]

7. Mel Martinez

It get juicier when it involved the White House.

In the document, Ney fessed up to lobbying Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), then a Bush cabinet official, on behalf of an Abramoff client. The official's department later acted favorably toward Abramoff's client, according to news accounts.

Ney admitted to arranging a January, 2003 meeting with Mel Martinez, then Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, to " the interests of Abramoff's Native American Indian Tribal clients."

Ney told Martinez that his "number one priority as the newly installed Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee was Native American Indian Tribal housing," according to the plea.

Martinez has said he can't recall the meeting.


But here's Martinez's problem. He's said that he never met wtih Abramoff while heading HUD; but clearly Ney was acting as a kind of lobbyist for Abramoff, who was trying to win HUD funds for his Indian clients.

And he got plenty. According to The Miami Herald, Abramoff's client The Saginaw Chippewa, for whom Abramoff was working hard to win HUD money, was awarded about $4 million from 2002 to 2004

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001539.php

[swag]

8. Why, Conrad Burns, of course.

I would love to see Tester whip his ass in November, then see Conrad enjoy some jail time.