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Abramoff Scandal
Sen. Martinez, ex-HUD chief, linked to Abramoff


Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Florida), President Bush's former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, is the latest Republican lawmaker to be linked to the Jack Abramoff scandal.

Martinez accepted $2,500 from Abramoff and returned it after the disgraced lobbyist pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to defraud tribes. But The Miami Herald reports that Martinez has kept $250,000 he collected at a Senate campaign fundraiser that was co-chaired and attended by Abramoff.

That's not the only connection between the pair. According to a member of Team Abramoff who has pleaded guilty, former secretary Martinez met with Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) to discuss tribal housing issues on behalf of one of Abramoff's clients.

The client is not named in court papers but The Miami Herald notes that the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hired Abramoff to lobby HUD. Martinez doesn't remember the meeting, however, and the tribe wouldn't comment about its lobbying efforts.

Get the Story:
Funds link Martinez, Abramoff (The Miami Herald 5/19)

Court Documents:
Charge of Information | Guilty Plea | Factual Proffer

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