Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Abramoff Scandal
Former Burns staffer confirms investigation by DOJ


The former chief of staff to Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) confirmed that he is under investigation by the Department of Justice for his ties to Jack Abramoff, bringing the probe of the disgraced lobbyist closer to the Montana senator.

Will Brooke told the Lee Newspapers State Bureau that DOJ is looking into a 2001 Super Bowl trip funded by Abramoff. �That whole trip has been the subject of investigation,�� he said. Burns has repeatedly denied that he is under investigation although he has said he doesn't know whether he is or he isn't.

Brooke and Ryan Thomas, a Senate staffer who still works for Burns on the Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee, went to Florida on Abramoff's dime. But Brooke says Abramoff told him the trip was funded by an unnamed tribe.

Brooke left Congress in 2003 to work for Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig. His clients included the Meskwaki Tribe of Iowa and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, according to Senate documents[Lobbying Records].

Brooke has since left the firm and now works for Ryan, Phillips, Utrecht & MacKinnon. His clients have included the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan and Cook Inlet Regional Corporation, an Alaska Native regional corporation [Lobbying Records].

Get the Story:
Super Bowl trip included in lobbyist probe (The Helena Independent Record 1/18)
Burns downplays alleged link to Abramoff (The Bozeman Chronicle 1/17)
Sen. Burns fires back (The Missoulian 1/17)

Relevant Links:
Sen. Conrad Burns - http://burns.senate.gov
Montana Republican Party - http://www.mtgop.org
Montana Democratic Party - http://www.montanademocrats.org

Related Stories:
Jodi Rave: Sen. Burns ignored Cobell, tribal issues (1/17)
Sen. Burns losing support among Montana voters (01/12)
Sen. Burns blames media for Abramoff story (1/10)
Editorial: Burns, Baucus and Rehberg were bought (12/22)
Editorial: Burns, Baucus and Rehberg were bought (12/22)
Abramoff still an issue for Montana politicians (12/21)
Editorial: No more nasty politics on Montana? (12/21)
Burns staffer went on Abramoff Super Bowl trip (12/21)
Ex-Abramoff associate pleads guilty in Montana (12/21)
Sen. Baucus returns $19K in Abramoff donations (12/20)
Another Republican returns Abramoff donations (12/19)
Burns to return $150K in Abramoff donations (12/16)
Editorial: Burns should return Abramoff donations (12/15)
Burns already spent donations from Abramoff (12/14)
Former Burns aide talks with Abramoff investigators (12/13)
Editorial: Don't hate Burns, hate the system (12/12)
Burns wishes Abramoff had 'never been born' (12/9)
Opinion: Burns worried about public opinion (12/9)
Sen. Burns to launch Abramoff offensive in January (12/8)
Sen. Burns wants name cleared in Abramoff probe (12/7)
Staffer for Sen. Burns went to work for Abramoff (12/05)
Ex-Abramoff associate charged in Montana for poaching (08/19)
Sen. Burns took $34K from ex-Abramoff client (11/30)
Abramoff probe spreads to members of Congress (11/28)
Abramoff probe looking into Congress, Bush (11/25)
Montana Democrats to run ads against Burns (11/22)
Ex-Abramoff associate charged in Montana for poaching (08/19)
Democrats to make change to Burns, Abramoff ad (08/10)
Democrat ad criticizes Burns for ties to Abramoff (8/9)
Democrats received donations from Abramoff tribes (06/03)
Bloomberg: Abramoff tribes gave $1.4M to Congress (05/19)
Sen. Burns: Support for Montana tribes is known (04/18)
Burns says Michigan delegation backed school funds (04/04)
Editorial: Burns has chance to restore Indian funds (3/31)
Democrats want Burns to return tribal donations (03/29)
Burns denies wrongdoing for helping Abramoff client (03/24)
Chairman: Montana tribes support Senator Burns (3/18)
Editorial: Facts don't look good for Senator Burns (03/14)
Editorial: Burns needs better story on Abramoff flap (3/8)
Firm offers $9M refund to Saginaw Chippewa Tribe (3/7)
Editorial: A 'Super Bowl' earmark for tribe (3/7)
Editorial: Burns 'enriched' by Abramoff and tribes (3/7)
Horse Sense: Burns and Baucus 'cozy' with lobbyists (3/7)
Burns promises cooperation with Abramoff probe (3/4)
Editorial: Who do you work for, Senator Burns? (3/4)
Burns looking into Abramoff ties, Dorgan denies link (3/2)
Burns, Dorgan backed $3M grant for Abramoff client (3/1)
Tribal lobbying scandal hurts ex-Abramoff firm (02/17)
Sag Chip recall targets anti-Abramoff tribal leaders (02/11)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Documents detail lobbyists' role in tribal elections (10/04)
More hearings slated in tribal lobbyist scandal (09/30)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set (8/26)
Saginaw Chippewa leader who paid lobbyists ousted (06/04)
Indian Country awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M went (04/20)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hires new lobbying firm (03/09)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets new lobbyist (12/13)