Lobbyist With Ties to Bush Investigated

[Beaverhausen]

Lobbyist With Ties to Bush Investigated

Wed Mar 30,11:37 AM ET Elections - AP

By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A lobbyist under investigation for billing Indian tribes tens of millions of dollars was at the center of an earlier inquiry that said his firm hadn't justified roughly $1.2 million it charged the Northern Mariana Islands.

Jack Abramoff, who has ties to President Bush and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, is the lobbyist being investigated. He was the lead lobbyist for Seattle-based Preston Gates & Ellis when it worked on behalf of the U.S. territorial islands to keep them free from certain federal labor and immigration laws during the last half of the 1990s, according to reviews conducted by the Pacific islands' public auditors.

One audit concluded that about $1.2 million in government payments to Preston Gates was "not adequately supported." The charges included travel, telephone, photocopy, computer research and outside-professional fees. Auditors said Preston Gates improperly billed the government $2,000 for a June 1996 golf tournament.

The auditors said some payments to Abramoff's firm were made illegally, the documents show.

Andrew Blum, a spokesman for Abramoff attorney Abbe Lowell, said Abramoff "worked tirelessly" on behalf of the Mariana Islands and fees paid to Abramoff or his lobby firms were "more than justified."

more here
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050330/ap_on_el_ge/lobbyist_mariana_islands

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. This one has real implications.

I do hope some intrepid investigator is pouring over ELEC reports and referencing them to legislative initiatives.

[jojo54]

2. Holy shit!

I hope it's investigated right along with the Gallagher case. OMG! That's grounds for impeachment - but the big question is, will the Dem officals jump on it?

[7th_Sephiroth]

3. tomorrows headline

Lobbyist with ties to bush found dead, suicide, 3 Secret service special 9mm bullets in his head

[Voltaire]

4. I wonder what Abbe Lowell is doing as his attorney

He was Minority Counsel during the sham Clinton Impeachment hearings that the House Judiciary Committee held....hmmmm

[WHAT]

5. The "Gate" in this law firm is Bill Gate's father...

"Gates. Get it? The Gates in Preston Gates & Ellis refers to none other than Bill Gates' daddy, William H. Gates."

http://www1.excite.com/home/careers/company_profile/0,15623,1143,00.html

I just thought that was interesting. It's like a ball of string...

[slor]

6. This one WILL be investigated...

OH WAIT, MICHAEL JACKSON IS EXITING THE COURTROOM!