Sensenbrenner and Abramoff

[katty]

Why did Sensenbrenner go to Bahrain? did a search-he did go...
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/congtravel/member_report.php?member=7315

Sponsor(s) - Islamic Free Market Institute Foundation
Dates - April 4, 2004 - April 9, 2004 (6 days)
Location(s) - Doha, Qatar - Bahrain - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Purpose - speak at conference in Doha and investigate money laundering in the Middle East
Notes - with spouse Cheryl - other for taxi
Travel Cost - $17,027.48
Lodging Cost - $594.56
Meal Cost - $432.40
Other Cost - $43.24
Total Cost - $18,097.68
Additional family members - Yes

excerpt: http://www.tomflocco.com/fs/Sensenbrenner.htm

According to sources familiar with several grand jury probes overseen by Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, Sensenbrenner is currently under federal investigation regarding links to indicted Republican lobbyist and Bush “pioneer” fundraiser Jack Abramoff who was employed by Saleh Kamel to lobby U.S. legislators to expand the reach and money flow of Islamic banks within the United States banking system.

On April 4-9, 2004 Chairman Sensenbrenner accepted an all-expense paid trip to Bahrain and Dubai to speak at a conference organized by Saleh Kamel and funded by the Islamic Free Market Institute, the conflicts of which may explain why he is blocking an impeachment inquiry sought by 33 House members regarding illegal spying on the American people, misleading the U.S. into the Iraq War, immigration failures and evidence linking the government to the September 11 attacks among other issues.

As Judiciary committee chairman with jurisdiction over bills of impeachment, the Wisconsin Republican and heir to the Kimberly-Clark paper fortune has the power to authorize a committee vote for an inquiry into whether there is sufficient evidence to impeach President Bush, after which articles of impeachment could be voted upon and sent to the full House as members have signed on to Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers’ resolution to create a select committee for that purpose.

Despite Sensenbrenner’s interest in Islamic banking, it was his pre-indictment protection of Abramoff and ties to Kamel and Dubai—the recent subject of a public firestorm over the Bush administration’s attempt to sell control of U.S. ports to Dubai Ports World Corporation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—which is drawing the attention of prosecutors who are reportedly investigating 30-40 legislators, their wives and staffers regarding bribery and secret payoff trusts linked to Abramoff, according to U.S. intelligence sources.