Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others

November 15, 2006 1:23 PM

Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:

Reid_nr As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison
today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities
told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of
Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with
federal prosecutors.

A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority
Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical.

"We have no idea what Abramoff is telling prosecutors to save his
skin, but I do know that these kind of old allegations are completely
ridiculous and untrue," Sen. Reid's spokesman Jim Manley told ABC
News.


A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors
that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from
Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by
Reid."

Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him
on matters related to Indian gambling.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at
least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to
his campaign.

Reid has denied there was any connection between the letters and the
contributions and has said he is a longtime opponent of certain kinds
of Indian reservation gambling.

The AP reported that Reid acknowledged "routine contacts" with
Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening to block rival tribal
casinos.

The AP also reported that Abramoff's billing records showed extensive
contact with Reid's office over a three-year period in which Reid
collected more than $68,000 from Abramoff's firm, partners and
clients.

Prosecutors have said that Abramoff's cooperation is essential to the
corruption investigation, but, so far, they have brought only one
prosecution against a member of Congress connected to Abramoff,
Republican Bob Ney of Ohio, who resigned.

The source said prosecutors do not intend to rely solely on Abramoff's
account of events, and his allegations against Reid and others will
not necessarily result in criminal charges.

Sources close to the federal investigation say Abramoff has offered
testimony about his contacts with "six to eight seriously corrupt
Democratic senators" and an ever larger number of Republican members
of Congress.

In addition to Reid, the sources say Abramoff has been most closely
questioned about his contacts with Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who
was defeated in last week's election.

"Being defeated may have been one of the best things that ever
happened to Burns," said a source close to the investigation. "There
is much more interest in members of Congress who are still in office,"
the source said.

Burns, who received more than $150,000 in Abramoff-connected campaign
contributions, has strongly denied any wrongdoing and returned the
money.

Sen. Reid has been an outspoken critic of the connections between
Abramoff and Republican legislators.

In a speech earlier this year, Sen. Reid described it as "a program
where the lobbyists paid and the Republican members of Congress
played."

The Justice Department said it would have no comment on the ongoing
Abramoff investigation.

--

Scott in Florida

In article <f6uml2pb3pfq5lfhdtu116jrth98od6k1l@4ax.com>,
Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote:

> Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others
>
> November 15, 2006 1:23 PM
>
> Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:
>
> Reid_nr As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison
> today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities
> told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of
> Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with
> federal prosecutors.
>
> A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority
> Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical.
>
> "We have no idea what Abramoff is telling prosecutors to save his
> skin, but I do know that these kind of old allegations are completely
> ridiculous and untrue," Sen. Reid's spokesman Jim Manley told ABC
> News.
>
>
> A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors
> that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from
> Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by
> Reid."
>
> Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him
> on matters related to Indian gambling.
>
> The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at
> least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to
> his campaign.
>
> Reid has denied there was any connection between the letters and the
> contributions and has said he is a longtime opponent of certain kinds
> of Indian reservation gambling.
>
> The AP reported that Reid acknowledged "routine contacts" with
> Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening to block rival tribal
> casinos.
>
> The AP also reported that Abramoff's billing records showed extensive
> contact with Reid's office over a three-year period in which Reid
> collected more than $68,000 from Abramoff's firm, partners and
> clients.
>
> Prosecutors have said that Abramoff's cooperation is essential to the
> corruption investigation, but, so far, they have brought only one
> prosecution against a member of Congress connected to Abramoff,
> Republican Bob Ney of Ohio, who resigned.
>
> The source said prosecutors do not intend to rely solely on Abramoff's
> account of events, and his allegations against Reid and others will
> not necessarily result in criminal charges.
>
> Sources close to the federal investigation say Abramoff has offered
> testimony about his contacts with "six to eight seriously corrupt
> Democratic senators" and an ever larger number of Republican members
> of Congress.
>
> In addition to Reid, the sources say Abramoff has been most closely
> questioned about his contacts with Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.), who
> was defeated in last week's election.
>
> "Being defeated may have been one of the best things that ever
> happened to Burns," said a source close to the investigation. "There
> is much more interest in members of Congress who are still in office,"
> the source said.
>
> Burns, who received more than $150,000 in Abramoff-connected campaign
> contributions, has strongly denied any wrongdoing and returned the
> money.
>
> Sen. Reid has been an outspoken critic of the connections between
> Abramoff and Republican legislators.
>
> In a speech earlier this year, Sen. Reid described it as "a program
> where the lobbyists paid and the Republican members of Congress
> played."
>
> The Justice Department said it would have no comment on the ongoing
> Abramoff investigation.

Seems we're just getting started with the Abramoff investigation. Harry
Reid looks gaunt has he been sleeping ok?
--

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:40:50 -0600, dbu' <repubs@waitfor08.com> wrote:

>Seems we're just getting started with the Abramoff investigation. Harry
>Reid looks gaunt has he been sleeping ok?
>--
>

LOL....

I heard a lot of nonsense about the Dims being so honest...

Looks like they are gonna all be in jail before their two year term is
over....


--

Scott in Florida

In article <j35nl259m17daorqfodqlbussl289uj9ju@4ax.com>,
Scott in Florida <askifyouwant@mindspring.net> wrote:

> On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 15:40:50 -0600, dbu' <repubs@waitfor08.com> wrote:
>
> >Seems we're just getting started with the Abramoff investigation. Harry
> >Reid looks gaunt has he been sleeping ok?
> >--
> >
>
> LOL....
>
> I heard a lot of nonsense about the Dims being so honest...
>
> Looks like they are gonna all be in jail before their two year term is
> over....

Yep, the dimmies will show their stuff finally.
--

Scott in Florida wrote:

>Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others

By far most of Abramoff's "partners" have been Neocons, right?

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:41:49 GMT, dizzy <dizzy@nospam.invalid> wrote:

>Scott in Florida wrote:
>
>>Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others
>
>By far most of Abramoff's "partners" have been Neocons, right?

So far, now we are getting to the Dims....

Spin all you want, but Dims are the champions of graft and corruption.

The next two years I'll remind you, ditz...


--

Scott in Florida

Scott in Florida wrote:

>On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 22:41:49 GMT, dizzy <dizzy@nospam.invalid> wrote:
>
>>Scott in Florida wrote:
>>
>>>Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others
>>
>>By far most of Abramoff's "partners" have been Neocons, right?
>
>So far, now we are getting to the Dims....

Had to get through a lot of scumbag Neocons to get there...

>Spin all you want,

Pull fact-free nonsense out your ass all you want.

> but Dims are the champions of graft and corruption.

Typical right-wing lies, and quite ironic, considering the recent GOP
ethical woes...

>The next two years I'll remind you, ditz...

You'll just BS and lie then, too.

On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:27:22 GMT, dizzy <dizzy@nospam.invalid> wrote:

>>The next two years I'll remind you, ditz...
>
>You'll just BS and lie then, too.

I just report the facts, Dizz.....

I see you have a big problem knowing you are in the champion graft
party....


--

Scott in Florida

Scott in Florida wrote:

>(snip failure to respond to my points, coupled with repetition of bald-faced lies)

Gosh, you're clever.

On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 00:37:25 GMT, dizzy <dizzy@nospam.invalid> wrote:

>Scott in Florida wrote:
>
>>(snip failure to respond to my points, coupled with repetition of bald-faced lies)
>
>Gosh, you're clever.

Can't handle the truth, Ditz?

I will rub your face in it for two years.

Fasten your seat belt...


--

Scott in Florida