Washington, D.C. (AHN) - The Justice Department filed paperwork on Wednesday seeking a lighter sentence for convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, citing Abramoff’s help in a federal corruption probe that has implicated several officials.

Abramoff is currently serving a six-year sentence for charges of conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. He was convicted by a Florida court in 2006 after pleading guilty to sending a fake wire transfer worth more than $20 million to buy the SunCruz Casino in 2000.

He is due to be sentenced by a Washington, D.C. court to as much as 11 years in prison for unrelated charges of tax evasion, fraud and conspiracy on Sept. 4.

Prosecutors want the court to reduce Abramoff’s sentence for his Florida conviction to four years, and the Washington public corruption conviction to five years and for months. They argue that the former lobbyist has assisted in a wide-ranging federal probe that has led to the convictions of officials, including former Justice Department Division Deputy Chief of Staff Robert Coughlin, former Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles and former Ohio Rep. Bob Ney.

More here

Keep repeating this bastard’s ties to Abramoff every day all the way through to the elections. And if he still gets voted in, then the voters of Colorado will certainly get what they deserve.

Abramoff Story Lives On

Just when it seemed that Washington had moved on to more recent scandals like the D.C. Madam trial or the indictment of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), an old chestnut — the Jack Abramoff scandal — has come back to life.

The tale of the disgraced lobbyist and his congressional partners in crime (some alleged, some convicted) had appeared to be dormant, until Colorado’s open’seat Senate race returned it to the media radar. That contest pits Rep. Mark Udall (D) against ex-Rep. Bob Schaffer (R), and its Schaffer’s alleged ties to Abramoff that have become a key issue in the campaign. [...]

But the interesting part to Capitol Briefing is how the Abramoff scandal is still managing to get its tentacles into new targets in 2008, more than four years after the story broke. And for what it’s worth, the Justice Department appears to be still slogging along in its investigation of the Abramoff matter, meaning Schaffer may not be the last member under the microscope.

Bwaaaaahaaaahaaaaaaaa!

From USAToday:

White House visitor logs are public documents, a federal judge ruled Monday, rejecting a legal strategy that the Bush administration had hoped would get around public records laws.
The ruling is a blow to the Bush administration, which is fighting the release of records showing visits by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and prominent religious conservatives.

The records are created by the Secret Service, which is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. But the Bush administration has ordered the data turned over to the White House, where they are treated as presidential records outside the scope of the public records law.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth said logs from the White House and Vice President Dick Cheney’s residence are subject to public records request.

Call me crazy but I don’t think these crooks should be able to use campaign contributions for legal fees. Somehow, I don’t think people meant for their contributions to be used that way. Of course, they’re rich republicans……nevermind. I hope Feeney goes down.

More at the Blotter

The top administrative officer in the House has been subpoenaed for e-mails related to the ongoing criminal investigation of Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.), according to a notification read on the House floor Thursday.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued the subpoena to Daniel P. Beard, the chief administrative officer of the House, whose office oversees electronic communications for members of Congress and their staff.

“The subpoena was issued in connection with the Justice Department investigation of Congressman Doolittle and seeks material from e-mail backup tapes maintained by the CAO,” according to a notification of the subpoena.

This is the latest development in an ongoing Justice Department investigation of the California Republican. Doolittle and six members of his staff were subpoenaed by the same grand jury last month.

The Justice Department has been investigating the lawmaker and his wife in its ongoing public corruption investigation stemming from a probe of jailed former GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

More at Politico

Every time I read something related to Abramoff I am reminded of the charges against Tom Delay and wonder what’s going on with that case. The Texas courts ruled this week that the dismissal of the conspiracy charge stands. He’s still charged with money laundering and conspiracy to launder money. No trial date set. I’m still hoping upon hope that he’s convicted.

California Rep. John Doolittle said Thursday that the Justice Department has issued subpoenas to him and five of his staff members seeking office records going back 11 years in connection to the congressman’s relationship with jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Doolittle’s attorney indicated that he might fight having to comply.

Doolittle, a Republican, declined further comment about the subpoenas. But his criminal defense attorney, David Barger, said in a prepared statement that the subpoenas “raise serious constitutional issues going to the very core” of the separation of powers between the Congress and the executive branch.

The statement didn’t say what records are being sought but said they include “virtually every record, including legislative records, for the congressman for the past 11 years.”

That would indicate that prosecutors want to review records dating from 1996, which is about the time Doolittle would have met Abramoff.

In an interview in February 2006, Doolittle said he couldn’t recall exactly when he met Abramoff but thought it was at a fundraiser held for someone other than him. The first political contribution by Abramoff on the records of the Federal Election Commission was $1,000 on Jan. 22, 1997, to former Rep. Tom DeLay, the Texas Republican who later became House majority leader. Doolittle was a friend and loyal lieutenant to DeLay.

More at McClatchy

With a busy autumn ahead for the Jack Abramoff investigation, prosecutors may be trying to send former aides - and even Abramoff himself - a message: Play nice with us and we-ll play nicer with you.

In August, Justice Department prosecutors investigating Abramoff and his wide-ranging corruption schemes reduced Will Heaton’s sentence to probation and recommended only home confinement for Neil Volz. The two former aides to Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) played key roles in sending their former boss to jail for 30 months.

Prosecutors are continuing to talk to Abramoff and Michael Scanlon, his close associate and a former top aide to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas). In late August, the government postponed scheduled status hearings with Judge Ellen Huvelle for both men, giving them three more months to continue to spill information.

More at the Hill

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A high-ranking Bush administration official was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Tuesday for lying to Congress as it investigated a bribery scandal centered on lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Steven Griles, who served as the No. 2 Interior Department official between 2001 and 2005, had hoped to serve his sentence at home working for a charity sponsored by Walt Disney Co. and several outdoor-equipment makers. (emphasis mine….. are you KIDDING ME?)

But Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle said Griles had refused to take responsibility for his actions and imposed a sentence tougher than the one sought by prosecutors.

“Even now, you continue to minimize and try to excuse your conduct and the nature of your misstatements,” Huvelle said.

Griles, 59, is the highest-ranking Bush administration official convicted in the wide-ranging bribery scandal centered around Abramoff.

Griles pleaded guilty in March to lying to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee as it examined Abramoff’s clout in the Interior Department.

Abramoff is serving a six-year prison sentence and cooperating with investigators.

Griles was introduced to Abramoff by Griles’ sometime girlfriend, Italia Federici, shortly before he started at Interior. Federici has also pleaded guilty to obstructing Congress.

Federici acted as a go-between for the two men as they worked together to influence Interior Department actions that affected Abramoff’s Indian-tribe clients, Justice Department lawyers said.

More at the Reuters

Sing like a canary! You know you can!!

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican activist pleaded guilty on Friday to obstructing Congress and evading taxes in a deal with prosecutors probing the influence-peddling scandal involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Italia Federici faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, but she will likely serve far less. Sentencing was set for November 16 and prosecutors will weigh the value of her cooperation in the ongoing investigation.

She also faces between $6,000 and $60,000 in fines and must pay taxes owed plus interest.

Abramoff, currently serving a six-year prison sentence, is at the center of a lobbying scandal that has resulted in prison time for several Bush administration officials and one congressman.

As head of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, Federici, 37, had close ties to senior Interior Department officials, including former Interior Secretary Gale Norton. Founded by Federici and Norton in 1997, CREA is a nonprofit group that touts Republicans’ environmental accomplishments and criticizes established environmental groups like the Sierra Club.

More at Reuters

WASHINGTON - The FBI has asked U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney for information about his dealings with Jack Abramoff as part of its ongoing investigation into the lobbyist convicted of defrauding clients.

FBI agent Kevin Luebke refused to say whether Feeney, a Republican from the Orlando area, is under federal investigation.

Federal agents also have asked the St. Petersburg Times for an email sent to the newspaper by Feeney’s office describing a golfing trip the congressman took with Abramoff to Scotland in 2003.

Feeney did not return calls for comment Monday. But his Washington office released a statement to the Times late Monday.

“Rep. Feeney considers this an embarrassing episode in his 17-year career as an elected official and an expensive lesson for him as a public servant,” according to the statement.

Feeney is one of three House members who accompanied Abramoff to Scotland on trips that included rounds of golf at the legendary Royal & Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews.

The others are: former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who is serving prison time for corruption, and former House Republican leader Tom DeLay, indicted in Texas for alleged improper fundraising, is under investigation.

“The Justice Department has been investigating activity surrounding Jack Abramoff,” according to Feeney’s statement. “The Justice Department has contacted Rep. Feeney to request more information regarding this matter and he is pleased to voluntarily cooperate.”

Read more here