Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California) says a bill he sponsored that would have helped the Mashpee Wampanog Tribe of Massachusetts had nothing to do with the tribe's lobbyist -- Jack Abramoff.

Pombo introduced a bill that would have forced action on the tribe's languishing federal recognition petition. Other tribes in similar circumstances would have benefited as well.

Pombo also held hearings that included the tribe. But he says he never knew Abramoff was working for the Mashpees.

"I can't remember any lobbyist speaking to me about the Mashpee," Pombo told The Stockton Record.

Around the same time however, Pombo received $19,000 in campaign contributions from Mashpee leaders, Abramoff and the tribe's financial backers.

Pombo is running for re-election. His Democratic opponent, Jerry McNerney, has made Abramoff a campaign issue.

Get the Story:
Abramoff case dogs Pombo (The Stockton Record 10/29) $ad1 Relevant Links:
Rep. Richard Pombo - http://www.house.gov/pombo
House Resources Committee - http://resourcescommittee.house.gov

Related Stories:
Pombo met Abramoff 'two or three times' (10/27)
Editorial: Republicans should dump Rep. Pombo (10/16)
Billing records link Abramoff and Rep. Pombo (10/11)
Rep. Pombo easily beats off GOP primary challenger (06/07)
Rep. Pombo said to be in 'trouble' over Abramoff (05/01)
Follow Pombo's money to oil, Indians and Abramoff (4/26)
Staffers paid by Interior but work for Rep. Pombo (03/01)
Pombo starts investigation of DOI royalty program (2/16)
Pombo says Abramoff 'never lobbied me on anything' (02/14)
Pombo has accepted more than $500K from tribes (01/30)
Pombo takes on Indian issues but avoids Abramoff (12/20)
Pombo gives Abramoff cash to Red Lake Boys & Girls (12/16)
Pombo pressed to investigate Abramoff's work (12/15)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe donated $32K to Pombo (12/06)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe active in Washington (12/1)
Mashpee chair gave Abramoff e-mails to FBI (11/29)
Group: Pombo donations linked to tribal hearings (11/29)
Mashpee chairman happy with Abramoff work (11/22)
Pombo has received $90K from tribes this year (10/20)
Pombo has taken $71K from tribes so far this year (07/14)
Shinnecock Nation backers hold Pombo fundraiser (7/13)
Pombo schedules New York land claims hearing (07/11)
Pombo asks DOJ to widen investigation of Abramoff (07/06)
Pombo supports settlement of Cobell trust fund case (06/27)
Democrats look for candidate to run against Pombo (06/09)
Pombo asked again to investigate Abramoff (4/15)
Pombo brings off-reservation hearing to California (6/7)
Pombo continues hearings on off-reservation gaming (05/02)
Pombo collected $40K from tribes so far this year (04/25)
Pombo asked again to investigate Abramoff (04/15)
House committee takes up off-reservation gaming (03/18)
Off-reservation gaming hearing set by Pombo (3/15)
Congress steps into off-reservation casino fight (3/14)
Pombo circulates draft of off-reservation bill (3/11)
Pombo took on controversial topics in 108th Congress (12/16)
Pombo took $5K from tribe with bill before committee (07/19)
Pombo accepts money from tribes, tribal lobbyists (06/22)
Pombo visit to South Dakota highlights tribal issues (04/20)
Pombo invited to buffalo hunt on Rosebud Reservation (04/09)
House chairman shares common concerns (11/18)
House chairman supports self-governance rider (10/14)
House panels change hands in 108th Congress (01/10)