Talk of plea by lobbyist has Capitol Hill on edge

[kpete]

Talk of plea by lobbyist has Capitol Hill on edge

Janet Hook and Chuck Neubauer / Los Angeles Times


WASHINGTON -- Jack Abramoff is hardly a household name outside the U.S. capital. But in Washington's corridors of power, his name is spreading waves of anxiety about a possible political corruption scandal that could tarnish members of Congress, their aides and Capitol Hill lobbyists.

Abramoff, a once-powerful lobbyist who is the subject of a federal influence-peddling investigation, is considering a deal to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors, according to sources familiar with the probe. That could open the prospect that Abramoff will implicate any number of lawmakers and aides who were part of his vast network of access.

The case has already turned an unflattering spotlight on the ways of Washington. It has brought scrutiny to lawmakers who had dealings with Abramoff, including dozens who accepted campaign contributions, golf trips abroad and other perks.

Some lawmakers and party leaders fear that repercussions from the federal probe could produce the most far-reaching congressional scandal since 1992, when it was disclosed that 350 House members had been allowed to bounce checks with impunity at the House bank. The political backlash was strong enough that it drove dozens of members from Congress.
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051224/POLITICS/512240389/1022

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. I have a question about this

Will this massive investigation be finished before the sicko bastard in the White House is finished destroying our country?

[merh]

2. Don't travel in a small plane, Abramoff. eom

[babylonsister]

3. OT, but happy holidays to you, merh!

I hope you found some comfort and joy! :hug:

[merh]

6. comfort & joy this afternoon with family.

I'm having a very good weekend, I am really at peace, knowing that I am truly blessed.

I am so grateful for all of your support and encouragement, babylonsister. May you have a wonderful day and I hope you too have found comfort and joy! :hug:

BTW - did you see John Grisham's editorial in the NYT?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5685742

:loveya:

[Botany]

4. A must see .... Abramoff's restaurant

http://www.signatures-dc.com/

They are looking for a new name right now. I sent in a suggestion "The Song Bird," as Bob Ney of Ohio.

[babylonsister]

5. Another Abramoff link-see all the players:

http://www.jackinthehouse.org/

[Botany]

7. Good lord

what a rat's nest of sleeze.

But in good old Ohio with our funny voting machines the repugs will still have power. Even though
the exit polls will show the dems winning.

[Peace Patriot]

8. Yeah, but that's back when we still had a democracy (1992).

"The political backlash was strong enough that it drove dozens of members from Congress." --L.A. Times

Some of these war profiteering corporate news monopoly "journalists" sometimes forget--or don't bother to know--that Bushite corporations are now counting all our votes with 'TRADE SECRET," PROPRIETARY programming code, in extremely insecure, hackable electronic voting systems with virtually no audit/recount controls. So what does Bush care if he or any of his fellow fascists break the law? He openly admits numerous violations of the FISA laws and brags about it. Ditto Cheney. They have been harboring traitors, perjurers, and obstructors of justice; and they themselves are likely guilty of these crimes. in the case of torture, they just went ahead and exempted themselves from laws, treaties and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and invented their own laws. A little small time million dollar type fraud and influence peddling must make them laugh. It means nothing to them. It'll be a cold day in hell before they hold anyone in their junta, or their junta "Congress," accountable for ANYTHING--billions "lost" in Iraq, murderous negligence (Katrina), no-bid, no-performance, profit-guaranteed contracts, death squads in Iraq. "Political backlash" has no meaning. Bush is at 38% approval. Cheney's down to 18%. THEY DON'T CARE. They are a criminal gang, with power guaranteed by their buds at Diebold and ES&S. They'll grant pardons freely, snicker at any who get their tails caught in the ringer, bail them out, get them cushy jobs. This gossip in the L.A. Times that there will be any real accountability is part of the illusion that these news monopolies try to create that somehow democracy is "working." What crap!

I'm on something of a downer this Christmas morning--with rumors of the imminent bombing of Iran in the air. What's to stop them?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. "If they haven't done anything wrong...

...what do they have to be afraid of?"

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I LOVE when it all comes full circle....

[teryang]

10. He likes to make offers that can't be refused

That's what made him such a good lobbyist.