Lobbyist, Prosecutors Said Close to Deal

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

Federal prosecutors and lawyers for Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff consulted briefly Friday with a federal judge in Miami as they put the finishing touches on a plea deal that could be announced as early as Tuesday, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.

The plea agreement would secure the lobbyist's testimony against several members of Congress who received favors from him or his clients.

Abramoff and a former partner were indicted in Miami in August on charges of conspiracy and fraud for allegedly lying about their assets to help secure financing to purchase a fleet of gambling boats.

For the past two weeks, pressure has been intensifying on Abramoff to strike a deal with prosecutors since his former business partner, Adam Kidan, pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy in connection with the 2000 SunCruz deal.

Abramoff's cooperation would be a boon to an ongoing Justice Department investigation of congressional corruption, possibly helping prosecutors build criminal cases against up to 20 lawmakers and their staff members.

The sources, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks, said the lawyers spoke by phone with U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck, giving him an update on the plea negotiations. Huck scheduled another status conference for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051230/ap_on_go_co/abramoff_probe&printer=1;_ylt=AkcxskNRd.GUlrA___jWzAWMwfIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

[elehhhhna]

1. Har-dee-har-har! Happy New Year!

[Flabbergasted]

2. That's something to look forward to

[Spazito]

3. More than a few sphincter muscles in D.C. just contracted on

hearing, reading this, lol.

[stepnw1f]

5. That Was Funny

What do you think their New Years resolution might be?

[Spazito]

7. I suspect it might be along the lines of....

"I resolve to find someone bigger than me to sell to the prosecutor in order to save my sorry ass and I resolve to do it faster than my fellow conspirators." lol

[Quakerfriend]

8. That's why I have been wondering, How on earth does

Jack'f get to make a deal. He's the big enchilada. ...unless it's Cheney or shrub he's bringing down with him.

[stepnw1f]

10. No Shit

I think you might be right.

[Spazito]

11. I think it will be more like '5 names, dates, places to save my ass'

rather than a bigger name like bush or cheney. A list like: Delay, Ney, Frist, Hastert, Santorum
is more likely, imo.

[Greeby]

4. Mega-popcorn!

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[sallyseven]

6. I want to see delay fry.

also all the rest of the damn holier than thou pukes that pretend to be so moral..May they all go to Jail. How dare they tell us we are sinners those puke faces.

[bluestateguy]

9. Let's keep our fingers crossed and not pull the cart before the horse

There is no deal yet, and no one should be certain that Abramoff can deliver the goods. Maybe he can, but 5 years should have taught us all not to assume anything.

We've seen far too many of these "Bush/(insert name of Republican) is toast..." episodes that fail to materialize, instead resulting in days or weeks of heavy breathing, endless blogging and "bombshell" revelations that just don't go anywhere. Then people take to boards like this one lamenting "What happened?", and the conservative boards laugh at us.

Just keep your fingers crossed.

[still_one]

12. I'll believe it when I see it

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Is there any particular reason to believe that Gonzales' DOJ

will actually bring off the prosecutions called for here? If ever we needed a bulldog special prosecutor, this case is an example of why.

[joeunderdog]

14. The prosecutor appointed to lead this case has no prosecutions.

GW gave her the job. She also has ties to Frist and Delay. Quite a resume.

I have tremendous confidence that this will all go according to plan.