Former high-powered lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion charges, agreeing to cooperate in a federal corruption probe in Washington.
Abramoff is a longtime associate of several top GOP leaders, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Americans for Tax Reform director Grover Norquist, and former Christian Coalition chief Ralph Reed.
A source close to the investigation said investigators are currently looking at about half a dozen members of Congress. Another source, a senior government official told CNN the probe involves about two dozen lawmakers and staffers.
Sources told CNN’s Ed Henry that the former lobbyist may have thousands of e-mails in which he describes influence-peddling and explains what lawmakers were doing in exchange for the money he was putting into their campaign coffers.
This sleazebag has been at it for over a decade. I doubt if Democrats will be exempt from indictment either. Most of these clowns in Congress are loyal to one flag: the one that’s green and has dead presidents on it.
They gotta be careful, if they kick all the dishonest politicians out of D. C. the housing market would collapse.
“They gotta be careful, if they kick all the dishonest politicians out of D. C. the housing market would collapse.”
Good, I’m in NOVA, and would love to spend less than 300K for a house what would only cost 120K where my folks near Atlanta live.
Also, most lobbyists hedge their bets by giving to both parties. So yeah, I seriously doubt most of them are squeaky clean.
The best way to end most of the tax related corruption in Washington is to replace the income tax with a sales tax, such as the FairTax.
I would love to see a blood fest in congress! My dream world is where Kennedy and DeLay share a cell next to Santorio and Pelosi!
He had better not get away without serving any time at all, regardless of how helpful he is. This seems like an excellent opportunity to do some much needed housecleaning in our fair capital.
I have said it before and I will say it again, we have the best government that money can buy.
I’m a Democrat but I say — let’s the chips fall where they may.
I’m not like most Republicans who defend their leadership right or wrong. If a Democrat has done wrong, they should be punished. I hope most Republicans will say the same about their guys.
Let’s all hope and pray that they throw the book at this and other sleazebags like him. Democrat or Republican, these corporitists have got to be thrown out on their rear.
I know that there are still a few good politicians in DC. Let’s hope that this will help to clean house, because with the current administration, nothing will happen.
Let’s also hope and pray that “President” Bush does not pardon the lot of them, like President Ford did.
Can you say “impeach?”
Hell Bush is in it along with all the rest of them. The whole “pay to play” philosophy in DC is a neocon one – not that the rest of them didn’t stick their front trotters in to the Abramoff money trough regardless of affiliation.
I like your telecommuning Congress Idea more and more
The general spin is that this is a bipartisan scandal but I don’t see how that can be.
Tom “The Hammer” DeLay famously cracked down on lobbyists who gave to both sides, insisting that they throw in 100% with the Republicans.
I’d be VERY SURPRISED if Abramoff gave a thin dime to a democrat since DeLay came to power.