Politics
Bloomberg: Abramoff tribes gave $1.4M to Congress


Tribal clients of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave $1.4 million to at least 171 members of Congress from 2001 to 2004, according to an analysis by Bloomberg News.

Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) received the most with at least $136,500 from 2001 to 2004. He is the chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee, which handles funding for the Interior Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Office of Special Trustee, the Indian Health Service and the National Indian Gaming Commission.

According to Bloomberg, four other senators were among the top 10 recipients of Abramoff-linked tribal money. They were: North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan, with $54,000; Kansas Republican Sam Brownback, with $43,000; Mississippi Republican Thad Cochran, with $37,000; and Washington Democrat Patty Murray, with $36,980.

In the House, among the top recipients were: Rhode Island Democrat Patrick Kennedy, with $115,000; Ohio Republican Representative Robert Ney, with $56,500; and Texas Republican Tom DeLay, with $35,000.

Get the Story:
Abramoff, Indian-Tribe Money Reached Deep Inside U.S. Congress (Bloomberg News 5/19)

Related Stories:
Tribal funds helped Abramoff's failed Jewish school (5/18)
Abramoff tribes gave $153K to Montana delegation (5/16)
Column: Tribal bucks went to Republican interests (5/13)
Grand jury in Abramoff probe subpoenas Democrats (5/13)
Column: Ney investigated for Abramoff donations (5/11)
Abramoff refused to appear at hearing on high fees (5/10)
Abramoff lobbying scandal prompts look at rules (5/9)
Abramoff tied to yet another Congressional trip (5/9)
Abramoff scandal an issue in Georgia campaign (5/9)
Abramoff accused of double-dealing another client (5/6)
Coushatta tribal member went on DeLay golf outing (5/6)
Tom Cole recuses himself in any probe of DeLay (5/5)
In the Loop Contest: Name that Washington scandal (5/4)
Abramoff based political activities on Jewish faith (5/4)
Travel paid by Abramoff said to violate ethics rules (5/4)
New legislation seeks overhaul of lobbying regulations (5/4)
More Congressional travel linked to Abramoff (5/3)
Jack Abramoff breaks silence on lobbying scandal (5/2)
Abramoff a target in federal bank fraud probe (5/2)
McCain won't touch lawmakers in probe of Abramoff (4/28)
Ney signed onto bill after using tribe's luxury suite (4/28)
Recall of anti-Abramoff Sag Chip leaders debated (4/28)
More ties between Abramoff and DeLay detailed (4/27)
Former DeLay chief of staff lobbied for NIGA (4/26)
Tim Giago: White lawyers growing fat off tribes (4/26)
Abramoff used credit card to pay for DeLay's airfare (4/25)
Column: Good Indians or bad Indians? Hard to tell (4/25)
Money tribes gave to Abramoff ended up in Israel (4/25)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe gave $25K to GOP tax group (4/25)
Editorial: Saginaw Chippewa feud needs to end (4/25)
Novak: McCain hopes for indictment of Abramoff (4/22)
Meskwakis gave $50K to group founded by Norton (4/22)
One GOP group won't give records to McCain (4/22)
Abramoff and Scanlon 'still hounding' Sag Chips (4/22)
Coushatta Tribe sues Abramoff, Scanlon in state court (4/22)
Abramoff defends lobbying work for tribal clients (4/22)
McCain subpoenas GOP groups linked to Abramoff (4/21)
Morongo Band denies any ties to Abramoff scandal (4/21)
DeLay used skybox funded by Abramoff's tribes (4/21)
Democrats to introduce bill to address Abramoff (4/21)
House Republicans offer ethics probe into DeLay (4/21)
Congressman tied to Abramoff failed to pay tribal tab (4/20)
Hastert pays tab for fundraiser at Abramoff restaurant (4/20)
Vitter, Hastert never paid Abramoff restaurant tab (4/19)
DeLay denies wrongdoing over Abramoff funded trips (4/19)
Opinion: McCain right to probe fleecing of tribes (4/19)
Recall papers certified against anti-Abramoff leaders (4/19)
Time: FBI to depose ex-associate of Abramoff's (4/18)
Foe of Texas tribes denies knowing Abramoff (4/18)
Ties to Abramoff an issue for Ralph Reed campaign (4/18)
Opinion: Lobbying scandal cloaked in religion (4/18)
Sen. Burns: Support for Montana tribes is known (4/18)
Editorial: Burns should have said no to Abramoff (4/18)
Pombo asked again to investigate Abramoff (4/15)
DeLay's ties to Abramoff a focus of federal probe (4/13)
Opinion: Abramoff is DeLay's Monica Lewinsky (4/13)
'Where the hell were you when we were poor?' (4/12)
Column: Treatment of tribes by lobbyists an outrage (4/12)
Newsweek: Abramoff offered to expose DeLay, others (4/11)
Assessment: The Abramoff/DeLay scandal (4/8)
Salon: Abramoff sold DeLay to desperate tribes (4/8)
Opinion: When ripping off Indians is acceptable (4/8)
GOP rallies to DeLay's defense amid new reports (4/7)
Abramoff helped secure funding for 3rd DeLay trip (4/6)
Burns says Michigan delegation backed school funds (04/04)
Editorial: Burns has chance to restore Indian funds (03/31)
GOP letter to Norton came after Abramoff sent checks (03/30)
Abramoff previously questioned over billing (03/30)
Ralph Reed says he too was 'deceived' by Abramoff (3/28)
Both sides fighting tribe have ties to Abramoff (03/25)
Column: Abramoff, Scanlon had help scamming tribes (03/22)
Jena Choctaw Band back in spotlight in Louisiana (03/22)
McCain plans to finish hearings on lobbyist scandal (3/21)
Opinion: Ralph Reed did work for casinos, not the Lord (3/21)
Coushatta Tribe hires law firm linked to DeLay (3/18)
Chairman: Montana tribes support Senator Burns (3/18)
Senate Finance Committee investigates Abramoff (3/17)
Vitter won't say why he OKed Abramoff fundraiser (3/17)
DeLay denies wrongdoing on trip linked to tribe (3/16)
Vitter responsible for anti-tribal appropriations rider (3/16)
Hayworth predicts DeLay will weather ethics storm (3/15)
Column: Strange bedfellows in Abramoff scandal (3/15)
Editorial: Investigate overseas trip paid by Abramoff (3/15)
Griles fought casino opposed by Abramoff client (3/14)
Tribe gave $75K to group founded by Norton (3/14)
Tribe, gambling firm funded DeLay's overseas trip (3/14)
Editorial: Facts don't look good for Senator Burns (3/14)
DOI investigates contacts with group started by Norton (03/03)
Vitter denies helping Abramoff's former client (03/02)
Report: Former Norton organization subpoenaed (3/1)
Tribes gave $175K to group founded by Norton (2/28)
Tribal lobbying scandal hurts ex-Abramoff firm (02/17)
Tigua Tribe settles dispute over Abramoff fees (02/14)
Sag Chip recall targets anti-Abramoff tribal leaders (2/11)
Editorial: Washington 'sharks' ate tribe for lunch (02/08)
Donations funneled through Abramoff unaccounted (2/7)
Commentary: Tighten up lobbyist rules (01/18)
Commentary: Tribal lobbyist scandal is familiar tale (1/13)
Probe sought of Congressman linked to lobbyists (01/07)
Editorial: 'Shameful' dealings of Washington lobbyists (1/6)
Abramoff and Scanlon scandal won't go away (12/20)
Editorial: Ney's judgment 'clouded' by Abramoff (12/20)
Ney to meet with ethics panel over Abramoff ties (12/16)
Congressman subject of inquiry for Abramoff ties (12/15)
Lobbyists say Abramoff probe has run its course (12/13)
Congressman questioned during lobbyist probe (12/10)
Editorial: Ney not exactly a victim in Tigua case (12/03)
Abramoff 'totally in bed' with anti-gaming forces (11/29)
McCain eyes reform of lobbying disclosure laws (11/24)
Order freezing Abramoff's assets lifted in lawsuit (11/24)
Mississippi Choctaw lawyer referred Abramoff (11/22)
Former Ney chief of staff worked with Abramoff (11/19)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Coushatta Tribe sues ex-lobbyists for $32M (11/17)
Tigua Tribe to testify at Senate lobbying hearing (11/16)
Abramoff's assets frozen in employee case (11/15)
Vitter 'conned' by group opposing tribe (11/12)
GOP critic of McCain received tribal donations (11/08)
Author: Abramoff, Scanlon likely to be indicted (10/28)
Senate panel asks Coushatta Tribe for tapes (10/27)
Ralph Reed paid $4.1M to oppose tribes (10/26)
Two more lawyers linked to lobbyist scandal (10/21)
Online Chat: Abramoff 'close friend' of DeLay (10/20)
Christian Coalition still after Poarch Creeks (10/19)
Congressman denies knowing of tribe's backing (10/18)
Opinion: Lobbyist scandal goes all the way to Bush (10/15)
Congressman's anti-gaming push backed by tribe (10/15)
Tigua Tribe mum on Washington lobbyists (10/12)
House Resources asked to investigate lobbyists (10/8)
Another tribe considers lawsuit against lobbyists (10/7)
DeLay rebuked yet again for flaunting influence (10/7)
Coushatta Tribe to sue lobbyists for $32M (10/4)
Lobbyist scandal reaches to top levels of GOP (10/4)
Choctaw Tribe's lobbying documents kept secret (10/4)
Documents detail lobbyists' role in tribal elections (10/4)
Salon: Tom DeLay allowed tribes to be 'slickered' (10/4)
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)
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 new lobbyist (12/13)