WASHINGTON POST – Former high-powered lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty today to three felony charges in a deal with federal prosecutors that helps clear the way for his testimony about members of Congress and congressional staffers in a wide-ranging political corruption investigation.Appearing crestfallen and speaking softly in U.S. District Court in Washington early this afternoon, Abramoff, 46, expressed deep sorrow for what he called his “multitude of mistakes” in a career that once brought him to the pinnacle of power and influence among Washington lobbyists. After pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion, he told U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle that he would seek forgiveness from God and from those he had wronged.
I’m getting really tried of some folks billing this instance as the “Republican Culture of Corruption”. If they [Democrats] are going to say that, then they might as well say there is a “Democrat Culture of Corruption” because there are many Dems involved in this. Of course we won’t hear this from the party full of hypocrites, just like we didn’t hear it from them about Bubba, who had the same intelligence on Iraq that President Bush has. I hope they keep it up though, in several years the Democratic {arty will be no more, it will be Republicans and ‘the opposition’ party.
Charges against Abramoff here.
Conservative Outpost linked with Daily Summary...
Myopic Zeal linked with Jack Abramoff Pleads Guilty, Washington Sweats...
Stop The ACLU linked with Abramoff Pleads Guilty In Bipartisan Corruption at the Hill...
Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator linked with NBC: Top lobbyist to plead guilty...
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8:47 pm [ Quote ]
NBC: Top lobbyist to plead guilty…
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff will plead guilty to corruption and other charges in a plea deal with federal…
8:49 pm [ Quote ]
The republican culture of corruption? Here ya go, libs:
40 Of The 45 Members Of The Senate Democrat Caucus:
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) Received At Least – $22,500
Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) Received At Least – $6,500
Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) Received At Least – $1,250
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Received At Least – $2,000
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Received At Least – $20,250
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Received At Least – $21,765
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) Received At Least – $7,500
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Received At Least – $12,950
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) Received At Least – $8,000
Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) Received At Least – $7,500
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) Received At Least – $14,792
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Received At Least – $79,300
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) Received At Least – $14,000
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Received At Least – $2,000
Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) Received At Least – $1,250
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) Received At Least – $45,750
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Received At Least – $9,000
Senator Jim Jeffords (I-VT) Received At Least – $2,000
Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) Received At Least – $14,250
Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) Received At Least – $3,300
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) Received At Least – $98,550
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) Received At Least – $28,000
Senator Pat Leahy (D-VT) Received At Least – $4,000
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) Received At Least – $6,000
Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) Received At Least – $29,830
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Received At Least – $14,891
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Received At Least – $10,550
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) Received At Least – $78,991
Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) Received At Least – $20,168
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) Received At Least – $5,200
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) Received At Least – $7,500
Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR) Received At Least – $2,300
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) Received At Least – $3,500
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) Received At Least – $68,941
Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) Received At Least – $4,000
Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO) Received At Least – $4,500
Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) Received At Least – $4,300
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Received At Least – $29,550
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Received At Least – $6,250
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) Received At Least – $6,250
SOURCE
9:01 pm [ Quote ]
Sorry, but the issue is NOT that Abramoff gave money to people.
It’s that he BRIBED people. He wanted something, and tried to buy it.
As far as these Democrats are concerned, I’d like to see the facts. This is NOT money straight from Abramoff. This is from Native American tribes. They ALWAYS give to Dems, and this money is no more fishy simply because Abramoff is involved with these tribes.
The “you guys do it, too” defense only looks good on the surface. But we’ll have to wait for Abramoff’s testimony I suppose. If any Dems took bribes, then fine, let’s get rid of them, too. Dirty politics is dirty politics. This isn’t a Democrat/Republican issue.
9:05 pm [ Quote ]
daninmn, you probably shouldn’t speak anymore.
kgourlay, why would it not, it’s public knowledge that has been posted on the internet.
9:11 pm [ Quote ]
I think you are missing the point daninmn. Calling Abramoff an example of the Republican culture of corruption is clouding the issue, since it is really an example of the Washington culture of corruption.
It’s not just the Republicans, it’s most of congress. I hope Abramoff spills all the info he knows.
11:28 pm [ Quote ]
Of all the Democrats listed above, not ONE of them received any money from Abramoff directly. The Democrats in question received donations from indian tribes – and that is not a crime. Of all the Republicans who were given money, all of them were paid directly by Abramoff. And of all the Republicans that were given money, they gave something in return, that folks is called bribery and that is illegal. I think you have to make a distinction between legal donations from indian tribes and bribes from a lobbyist.
11:41 pm [ Quote ]
what’s that, ian? you disagree with him, obviously, but instead of trying to rebut his point, you basically tell him to shut up? i’m surprised by your tone and i’d like to think you can do better.
12:30 am [ Quote ]
Abramoff Pleads Guilty In Bipartisan Corruption at the Hill…
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 – Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to three felony counts in Washington today as part of a settlement with federal prosecutors, ending an intense, months-long negotiation over whether the Republican lobbyist would testify against his fo…
12:32 am [ Quote ]
Yeah, AFAIK Abramoff exclusively gave to Republicans. Dork’s post is highly misleading, and daninmn and RedJeep are right to point it out.
1:31 am [ Quote ]
That ‘08 run for Kerry doesn’t look good for him with him recievig at least $98,550 in Abramoff money. Then again, ‘08 doesn’t look good for anyone with a (D) next to their name on the ballot.
2:25 am [ Quote ]
Dork, do you actually read any of the posts? It’s not “Abramoff money” if it’s not from Abramoff, duh!
3:14 am [ Quote ]
No Abramoff money is from Abramoff dude. It’s all stolen from the Indians.
8:12 am [ Quote ]
Jack Abramoff Pleads Guilty, Washington Sweats…
Is the Abramoff problem a Republican problem as the Democrats are suggesting? Or is it going to hit each party equally hard? Will we finally get some exposure on the corruption in Washington? Here’s hoping that whoever is guilty is held accou…
10:51 am [ Quote ]
Daily Summary…
NEWS: – Anti-Alito push fails to sway U.S. – Groups Start Final Push Ahead of Alito Hearing – Abortion Key to Samuel Alito Confirmation Hearings – Alito Seen As Smart, Serious, Cautious – Splits on Immigration Reflect Voters’ Ambivalence -......
2:00 pm [ Quote ]
Here’s an interesting chart from WaPo. It turns out I was wrong. Some of the money WAS from Abramoff. It also shows that a lot of money was channelled to a lot of people on both sides of the aisle.
Are you claiming to know which part of that money was channelled to politicians as bribes and which was channelled as standard donations?
I’m mostly angry because ~$200 of that money was once mine, before I ‘donated’ it to the Choctaw Indians ;).
4:24 pm [ Quote ]
Kevin, that chart still seem to combine direct donations from the tribes with Abramoff’s bribes.
Ultimately, nobody can truly know the spirit in which money is given, but the essential difference remains: Bribes paid by Abramoff and not-through-Abramoff donations from the tribes are different things.
6:57 pm [ Quote ]
Indeed CC. Which were paid to whom?
10:27 pm [ Quote ]
Kevin: Abramoff’s group paid nothing to Democrats from 2001-2004. I’d think the percentages after that become much clearer.
The tribal money (that did not pass through Abramoff) is not part of any allegations. Tribes actually decreased existing donations to Democrats, shifting their donations to Republicans, after Abramoff started working for them. They just didn’t totally ignore the Democratic party, and that’s what we’re seeing now.
11:04 pm [ Quote ]
Correction: “Abramoff’s Group” should, for clarity, just say “Abramoff”. Group could mean cabal, tribal clients, etc.
12:16 am [ Quote ]
When Abramoff told the tribes how much money to give and to who… that money is not suspect? Why is anyone reporting on it then? Why are some politicians returning the money?
I have no idea about his dealings, and am not going to look into it too deeply. It’s pretty clear that the truth is being sought with vigor and we’ll get to the bottom of it.
3:27 am [ Quote ]
Abramoff seems to have defrauded the tribes while they were his clients too. There’s a difference between unmarked bribes and aboveboard donations.