Both men were charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy in their 2000 purchase of a fleet of SunCruz Casinos' Florida gambling boats. The government has enlisted his cooperation in an investigation into efforts he allegedly took to funnel money and favors to members of congress, staff members, and the wives of some members, to support causes of interest to his clients, notably Indian tribes. "; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Michael Scanlon","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/photos/051221/051221_scanlon_brill_02.thumb.jpg","","", "", "scanlon", "", "", "right", "AP", "", "98", "65", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Public relations executive, former Abramoff partner and press secretary to Rep. Tom DeLay, R-TX.
Scanlon pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving bribes to public officials and agreed to repay more than $19 million to tribes that he and Abramoff represented. He also agreed to testify about gifts that he and his colleagues gave lawmakers, allegedly in exchange for official favors."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Adam Kidan","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060110/Adam_Kidan.thumb.jpg","","", "", "kidan", "", "", "right", "Carlo Allegri", "Getty Images", "98", "65", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Former owner of the Dial-a-Mattress franchise in Washington, D.C., and president of SunCruz Casinos. Indicted along with Abramoff. Both men were sentenced to five years and ten months in prison and ordered to pay $21.7 million in restitution.
Both men were charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy in their 2000 purchase of a fleet of SunCruz Casinos' Florida gambling boats. Despite a statement where Kidan said he had cooperated with investigators, adding, \"I did nothing wrong and these allegations are totally unfounded\", on Dec. 15, 2005, Kidan pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud and four other felony counts were dropped. "; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","David Safavian","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060215/060215_ap_safavian.htease.jpg","","", "", "safavian", "", "", "", "The Washington Post", "", "90", "70", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Former top procurement officials in the Bush White House Office of Management and Budget. Convicted June 20, 2006 of four counts of obstruction and making false statements. Sentenced October 27, 2006 to 18 months in federal prison.
Safavian resigned on Sept. 19, 2005 and was arrested a day later. An FBI complaint accused him of lying and obstructing a criminal investigation into Abramoff’s dealings with the federal government. The complaint says Safavian made repeated false statements to government officials about a 2002 golf trip to Scotland with Abramoff and, among others, Rep. Robert W. Ney, R-OH, and former Ney chief of staff Neil Volz, then a lobbyist with Abramoff at the Washington office of Greenburg, Traurig. At the time, Safavian was chief of staff at the General Services Administration."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Tony C. Rudy","Tony Rudy, a former deputy chief of staff to Rep. Tom Delay, leaves Federal Court in Washington, Friday, March 31, 2006. after pleading guilty to conspiracy and promised to cooperate with the governments investigation of lobby fraud. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060331/060331_tonyrudy_app.htease.jpg","","", "", "rudy", "", "", "", "Lawrence Jackson", "AP", "90", "70", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Former deputy chief of staff to then-Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-TX. He has reportedly agreed to plead guilty to charges in the widening federal investigation of lobbyist fraud.
Rudy is said to have e-mailed internal congressional communications and advice to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff when it appeared an anti-gambling bill was going to pass in the House. Abramoff had a client, eLottery, which would be hurt if that bill passed. It is reported that Rudy received favors from Abramoff, including two luxury trips -- one partly paid for by eLottery -- and that Abramoff also arranged for eLottery to pay $25,000 to a foundation that hired Rudy's wife as a consultant. Rudy was later hired as a lobbyist by Abramoff."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Rep. Robert W. Ney, R-OH","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/photos/051221/051221_ney_brill_03.thumb.jpg","","", "", "ney", "", "", "right", "Getty Images", "", "98", "69", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Former Chairman, House Administration Committee, the committee charged with overseeing lobbying reform.
On October 13, 2006, Ney became the first congressman to plead guilty in the Capitol Hill lobbying probe surrounding Jack Abramoff. He faces between 27 months and ten years in prison at his January 19, 2007 Sentencing.
After first agreeing to temporarily step aside as chairman of the Committee while federal investigators probe allegations that he accepted trips, free dinners and events and campaign donations in exchange for his support of Abramoff’s tribal clients in Texas and the lobbyist’s purchase of a fleet of Florida casino boats - Ney announced on August 7, 2006, that he would not seek re-election and insisted he would not resign, even if indicted over his dealings with Abramoff. Then, on Friday, September 15, 2006, Ney agreed to plead guilty to making false statements and conspiracy to commit fraud and violating post-employment restrictions for former congressional aides. Investigators are also reportedly looking into Ney’s lobbying to relax sanctions on Iran, at the behest of an airplane broker seeking to sell Iran U.S.-made spare parts. Newsweek says the broker had taken Ney and a top aide on an expense-paid trip to London. Ney’s attorney said there was \"absolutely nothing improper\" about Ney's raising the issue of Iranian sanctions."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Neil Volz","","","","", "", "volz", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Former chief of staff for Rep. Robert Ney, R-OH. Volz pleaded guilty May 8, 2006 to one count of conspiracy, including wire fraud and violating house rules. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, depending on how helpful he is in the government's probe.
Volz was working for then Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff at the time Abramoff, Volz, Ney and others took a 2002 golfing trip to Scotland.
Abramoff is reported to have sought to have Indian gaming clients pay for the trip. Ney placed two speeches into the congressional record in support of Abramoff's efforts to obtain and operate SunCruz Casino lines and Ney has reportedly been told prosecutors are preparing a possible bribery case against him."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Rep. Tom DeLay, R-TX","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/photos/051221/051221_delay_brill_04.thumb.jpg","","", "", "delay", "", "", "right", "AFP - Getty Images", "", "98", "66", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Former House Majority Leader who has said he will discontinue his 2006 re-election campaign.
DeLay's wife, Christine DeLay, worked for a lobbying firm that received client referrals from Abramoff. An attorney for DeLay said there was no connection between her work and congressional business. DeLay, along with his former senior aide Tony C. Rudy, was a guest on a golfing trip to Scotland with Abramoff. While majority whip, DeLay, considered an outspoken opponent of gambling, cast a vote against an anti-gambling bill that would have seriously hurt one of Abramoff's clients. DeLay's lawyer said his votes \"are based on sound public policy and principle.\""; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Sen. Conrad Burns, R-MT","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/photos/051221/051221_burns_brill_05.thumb.jpg","","", "", "burns", "", "", "right", "AP", "", "98", "88", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee's Interior Subcommittee, which controls the Bureau of Indian Affairs' budgets.
Federal Election Commission and Internal Revenue Service records are reported to show Burns received more in donations from Abramoff and various tribes than any other member of Congress. In 2003, Burns co-signed a letter asking to have the Saginaw Chippewa tribe's eligibility for a $3 million school construction program reinstated. The tribe was one of Abramoff's clients. In a statement Dec. 16, 2005, Burns said he will return about $150,000 in donations that he received from Abramoff."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Rep. John T. Doolittle, R-CA","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/photos/051221/051221_doolittle_brill_06.thumb.jpg","","", "", "doolittle", "", "", "right", "house.gov", "", "98", "75", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "The California lawmaker signed a congressional letter opposing a request for a new tribal casino in Louisiana, a casino which two of Abramoff’s tribal clients are said to have considered unwanted competition.
A company run by Doolittle's wife, Julie, did work for Abramoff. Doolittle belatedly reported using Abramoff's skybox for a fundraiser. A former Doolittle staffer joined Abramoff's lobbying team. Records show Abramoff, his associates and their clients (primarily Indian tribes) contributed at least $140,000 to Doolittle's campaigns and political action committees since 1999."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Peter Ferrara","","","","", "", "ferrara", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Senior policy adviser at the Institute for Policy Innovation, who reportedly was paid by then-lobbyist Jack Abramoff to write op-ed articles.
The Washington Times and the Manchester Union Leader have banned Ferrara from their papers. Ferrara said, in a statement, that as an analyst for the conservative think tank, \"I have never written anything under an IPI byline that was financially supported or otherwise motivated by anyone other than IPI.\" Ferrara did admit though to being paid by Abramoff, \"I have already acknowledged that, years ago, Jack Abramoff was among those who provided occasional financial support for my work.\""; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Doug Bandow","Doug Bandow","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060215/060215_ap_bandow.htease.jpg","","", "", "bandow", "", "", "", "Cato.org", "", "90", "70", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "A columnist for the San Diego-based Copley News Service and senior fellow with the Cato Institute, who reportedly was paid by then-lobbyist Jack Abramoff to write op-ed articles.
The Copley News Service suspended Bandow’s column. Bandow resigned from the Cato Institute. A Cato spokesman said Bandow took payments of between $1,000 and $2,000 from Abramoff for \"about a dozen to two dozen\" opinion pieces that appeared in newspapers. It was not immediately clear which of Bandow's columns were subsidized by Abramoff. Bandow wrote about current events and appeared as a commentator on network and cable television news."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-RI","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060110/Patrick_Kennedy.thumb.jpg","","", "", "kennedy", "", "", "right", "Joe Giblin", "AP", "98", "67", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 1999-2001, soliciting campaign donations for House Democratic candidates. Listed in a Washington Post study as the top Democratic recipient of Abramoff-linked funds between 1999-2004, receiving as much as $128,000 in that period. Citing his support for American Indian causes, Kennedy says he has no plans to return any of the $42,500 he took from tribes represented by the lobbyist. "; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Rep. Dennis Hastert, R-IL","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060110/Dennis_Hastert.thumb.jpg","","", "", "hastert", "", "", "right", "Alex Wong", "Getty Images", "98", "64", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Speaker of the House
In 2003 Hastert sent a letter urging Interior Secretary Gale Norton to block an Indian casino opposed by rival tribes represented by former Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff. A spokesman would not say much Abramoff-linked money Hastert received or planned to give up."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-ND","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/2006/January/060110/56107697CS007_HEAT.thumb.jpg","","", "", "dorgan", "", "", "right", "Chip Somodevilla", "Getty Images", "98", "67", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "The senior Democrat on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigating Abramoff.
Dorgan says he has never met Abramoff and never advocated any program backed by Abramoff's tribal clients that he would not have otherwise embraced. He said he will return the $67,000 in donations from Indian tribes represented by Abramoff."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Sen. Harry, Reid, D-NV","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060215/060215_ap_reid.htease.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Chip Somodevilla", "Getty Images", "90", "70", "#000000", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "The Senate Democratic Leader who has led the Democratic Party’s attacks portraying Abramoff’s lobbying and fund-raising as a Republican scandal.
Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator’s staff regularly had contact with the Abramoff’s team about legislation affecting other clients. The Associated Press reports the contact occurred over three years as Reid collected nearly $68,000 in donations from Abramoff’s firm, lobbying partners and clients. Reid’s office acknowledged having “routine contacts” with Abramoff’s lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters - such as blocking some tribal casinos - in ways Abramoff’s clients might have deemed helpful. But it said none of his actions were affected by donations or done for Abramoff."; AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","The links","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "The links
";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Lobbyists","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Abramoff represented a variety of clients who did business with federal and state governments. Some of the individuals who worked with Abramoff were former government workers with some connection to those government matters. ";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Indian tribes","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "A number of Indian tribes employed Abramoff to represent their interests in federal and state matters involving, among other things, casinos, schools and construction.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Scotland golf","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "In 2002 Abramoff took a golf trip to Scotland with various former and current federal officials. Abramoff is reported to have sought to have Indian gaming clients pay for the trip. ";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Capitol Hill","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Much of Abramoff's lobbying work related to matters concerning officials on Capitol Hill.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Sun Cruz Casino","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Abramoff pleaded guilty to wirefraud and conspiracy in the purchase of a fleet of SunCruz Casino boats. As part of that plea, Abramoff has agreed to cooperate with the federal corruption probe that could involve up to 20 members of Congress and aides. ";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Donations","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Since Abramoff pleaded guilty to three federal felonies, more than 50 elected federal officials and many state officials have given up Abramoff-linked donations. Among the Republicans: President George W. Bush, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. Democrats include: Sen. Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Sen. Hillary Clinton, and Sen. Byron Dorgan.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Spouses","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Abramoff has agreed to cooperate with a federal investigation looking into concerns he funneled money and favors to members of Congress, their staffers, and the spouses and spouses businesses, to support causes of interest to his lobbying clients. ";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Journalists","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Published reports say Abramoff paid journalists for writing op-ed articles and columns favorable to the positions of some of his clients. ";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Timeline","","","","", "sub", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Timeline
";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Sept. 29, 2004","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Jack Abramoff refuses to answer questions from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about his work on behalf of American Indian tribes and casino issues. The Senate committee’s staff concluded after a seven-month investigation that Abramoff and his business partner, Michael Scanlon, had charged six tribes in six states a total of $66 million for lobbying and may have manipulated at least two tribal elections to ensure they would get contracts with tribes.
";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Aug. 11, 2005","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Jack Abramoff and associate Adam Kidan indicted by a Miami federal grand jury on fraud charges in the casino boat deal.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Aug. 29, 2005","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Jack Abramoff pleads innocent to Miami fraud charges.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Oct. 5, 2005","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "David Safavian, former chief of staff of the General Services Administration, is indicted on charges he made false statements and obstructed a federal investigation into his dealings with Jack Abramoff.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Nov. 21, 2005","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Jack Abramoff associate Michael Scanlon pleads guilty to conspiring to bribe public officials.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Dec. 15, 2005","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Jack Abramoff associate Adam Kidan reaches plea bargain with federal prosecutors on fraud charges arising from a 2000 deal to buy casino boats.";
AbramoffScandal_051221[i++] = new Array("","Dec. 13-22, 2005","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
AbramoffScandal_051221[i-1].body = "Five members of Congress, Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla.; Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan.; Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.; Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.; and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. return or give away campaign donations they received from Jack Abramoff.";
// END editorial data