printer friendly version
Lobbyist scandal reaches to top levels of GOP
Monday, October 4, 2004
"Throughout U.S. history, "every kind of charlatan and every type of crook has deceived and exploited America's native sons and daughters," says Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "What sets this tale apart, what makes it truly extraordinary, is the extent and degree of the apparent exploitation and deceit."
The unfolding scandal touches some of the GOP's most influential elected officials and lobbyists and could rock the capital before it's over.
To their credit, it is two independent-minded Republicans - McCain and Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado - who have exposed the sordid tale and are trying to clean up the mess.
At the center of the scandal is Jack Abramoff, a GOP lobbyist and longtime friend and political associate of some of his party's most gifted strategists, including Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition and the Southern regional chairman for President Bush's re-election campaign, and noted conservative activist Grover Norquist.
Abramoff is a leading GOP fundraiser, having collected hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and other top Republicans.
He is also among the elite group of "Pioneers" who pledged to raise more than $100,000 for Bush's re-election campaign this year."
Get the Story:
John Aloysius Farrell: Bilking of tribes could shake D.C.
(The Denver Post 10/3)
Related Stories:
Pueblo leader says
lobbyists' high fees not worth it (10/1)
Texas AG asked to investigate Abramoff, Scanlon
(10/1)
DeLay rebuked for trading
influence on House floor (10/1)
DeLay
rebuked for trading influence on House floor (10/1)
Ex-tribal lobbyists slammed in Senate hearing
(9/30)
Abramoff mum at hearing while
Scanlon a no-show (9/30)
Column:
Lobbyists lurked in 'cesspool of greed' (9/30)
Washington lobbyists called before Senate panel
(9/29)
Editorial: Send lobbyist hogs to
the slaughterhouse (9/29)
Tigua Tribe
outraged over being played as 'moronic' (9/28)
Tribes told to donate to lobbyists' foundation
(9/28)
Editorial: Actions of tribal
lobbyists 'loathsome' (9/28)
Lobbyists
worked for, against 'moronic' Tiguas (9/27)
Group opposing Poarch Creeks tied to tribal
lobbyists (09/16)
Coushattas used
lobbyists to spy on tribes, critics (09/13)
Bush strategist now knows source of tribal
funds (09/01)
Bush strategist claims no
knowledge of funds (8/31)
Bush-GOP
strategist admits taking tribal money (8/30)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set
(8/26)
Coushatta member threatened over
recall effort (08/09)
Coushatta Tribe's
lobbying records subpoenaed (07/23)
Hearing on high lobbying fees expected in
September (07/16)
GOP strategist denies
secretly taking tribal money (7/15)
Tribal money secretly funneled to GOP
strategist (06/25)
Busy Indian Affairs
Committee hits snag on big issues (06/17)
Indian Affairs Committee activity this week
(6/15)
Saginaw Chippewa leader who paid
lobbyists ousted (06/04)
Indian Country
awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)
Tribal chairman says $120K fee to Abramoff worth
it (05/18)
Republican governors
report biggest donor in 2002 (05/04)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M
went (04/20)
McCain demands documents
from lobbyist, PR exec (04/12)
Coushatta treasurer accuses NIGC of lax
oversight (04/12)
Choctaw chief
Martin defends embattled GOP lobbyist (04/09)
McCain pushing Choctaw tribe to cooperate with
probe (4/8)
Coushatta leaders used
tribal money to pay lobbyists (4/8)
Coushatta Tribe paid $32M to lobbyist Jack
Abramoff (4/6)
McCain aggressive in
pursuing lobbyist records (4/5)
McCain demands documents for tribal lobbyist's
work (3/30)
Embattled lobbyist signs
deal with another firm (03/25)
Embattled tribal lobbyist gave to Conn.
Congressman (03/10)
Saginaw Chippewa
Tribe hires new lobbying firm (3/9)
McCain begins investigation into high tribal
fees (3/4)
Pueblo governor says $1M
fee to PR firm not worth it (3/3)
McCain calls for investigation into tribal
spending (2/27)
Four tribes spent
$45M on lobbying and PR firms (2/23)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes
(04/03)
Embattled tribe gets has
new lobbyist (12/13)
Copyright © 2000-2004 Indianz.Com
