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Politics
House Resources asked to investigate lobbyists


The House Resources Committee is being asked to investigate Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and public relations consultant Michael Scanlon but a spokesperson said a probe is unlikely given the attention the pair is already receiving.

Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) and Rep. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) want to know whether the Tigua Tribe of Texas was bilked out of millions by the lobbyists. The tribe reportedly paid $4.2 million to get its casino reopened without knowing that the lobbyists worked to shut it down.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee and federal agencies are already investigating Abramoff and Scanlon. A federal grand jury has asked for documents related to the tribes involved.

The Senate panel's next hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 17. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado), committee chairman, and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) say future hearings will focus on the different tribes involved.

Get the Story:
Lawmakers seek Tigua inquiry (The El Paso Times 10/8)

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