Cast of characters in Abramoff affair...

[Peter Frank]

McClatchy Newspapers
December 06, 2005

WASHINGTON - Who's who in the Jack Abramoff saga:

Jack Abramoff: Lobbyist and businessman under multiple investigations on suspicions including influence peddling, overcharging and misleading clients including Indian tribes with casino interests; using a charity to conceal money. No criminal charges have been filed related to such allegations. He and a former business partner are indicted, separately, with fraud, in connection with the purchase in 2000 of a gaming venture, SunCruz Casinos, that later failed. A trial in the case could start next month.

Michael Scanlon: A one-time lifeguard who worked for Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas, the former House GOP leader, became a public-relations executive and partnered with Abramoff on clients including Indian tribes. Scanlon has pleaded guilty to conspiracy with Abramoff to bribe public officials and bilk tribes, and he is believed to be a key to federal prosecutors' broader corruption probe.

Rep. Tom DeLay: The Texas Republican gave up his leadership post earlier this year after being indicted in an unrelated campaign-finance case in his home state. He has not been charged in connection with Abramoff. The lobbyist raised money for DeLay, arranged for travel for him and got jobs for or shared business with several of the congressman's former staff members including Scanlon. DeLay has advocated on behalf of the interests of several of Abramoff's clients, on issues including worker pay, Indian tribes and Israel.

Rep. Bob Ney: The Ohio Republican, chairman of the House Administration Committee, has been subpoenaed by a grand jury in connection with his dealings with Abramoff. Ney has not been charged. He says he did nothing improper, does not believe he is a target and was misled by Abramoff. Abramoff and associates paid for travel for Ney and donated to his campaigns. Among Abramoff-friendly acts by Ney: In 2000, he put into the congressional record negative comments about the businessman from whom Abramoff and business partner Adam Kidan were negotiating to buy SunCruz. After the sale, Ney spoke favorably about Kidan.

Rep. John Doolittle: The California Republican's wife was subpoenaed last year in connection with her fund-raising and event-planning company being previously hired by Abramoff. Kevin Ring, a former legislative director for Doolittle, later worked as a lobbyist with Abramoff. Abramoff donated to Doolittle campaigns. Doolittle was supportive of some of Abramoff's clients' positions and was among several lawmakers who wrote a letter trying to block a casino that Abramoff clients opposed.

Sen. Conrad Burns: The Montana Republican is chairman of the appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Interior Department, which has Bureau of Indian Affairs jurisdiction. He played a leading role in getting Interior to give $3 million for school construction to a wealthy Michigan tribe that was an Abramoff client. Burns has not been charged with any wrongdoing and his office says he is not being targeted.

Sen. Byron Dorgan: The North Dakota Democrat is ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee chaired by Burns, and also is vice chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee chaired by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that is now investigating Abramoff. Abramoff associates and tribal clients raised money for Dorgan. Dorgan pushed in 2003 for the government to expedite a decision on giving tribal recognition to a client of Abramoff's firm. Dorgan, in response to an Associated Press account of his ties to Abramoff, just issued a statement saying he had never met Abramoff and was being smeared by targets of the Senate investigation who are trying to discredit him.


(Sources: Campaign-finance and lobbyist-disclosure records, court records, congressional interviews and news releases, The Washington Post, Associated Press, (Montana) Great Falls Tribune.)

http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=SCANDAL-CAST-12-06-05&cat=WW

...to name only a few.

[Botany]

1. Dorgan got $5,000 from Abramoff total

He is not part of this.


http://rawstory.com/exclusives/map_conservative_ties_raw_story_415.htm

[SpiralHawk]

2. If you are keeping tabs on the Republican culture of corruption

this is a handy guide.

there are so many NeoCon repubs involved in this sleaze, one does need a program to keep them straight.

Republican family values, my ass. They are a corrupt and hypocritical lot.