Jack Abramoff's new job: Selling pizza, not influence

[Ed Barrow]

Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, still serving a sentence for defrauding clients and conspiring to bribe public officials, has a new job: He's selling pizzas in Baltimore rather than influence in Washington. Abramoff, recently released from a federal prison camp in Cumberland to a halfway house in Baltimore, began working Monday at Tov Pizza on Reisterstown Road.

"I think people get a second chance," said Ron Rosenbluth, owner of the shop, which boasts of the city's best kosher pizza — which means lots of veggie options but no meat. "If they do their time, they deserve a chance."

Abramoff's job, first reported by the Baltimore Jewish Times, will involve marketing, Rosenbluth said, "to get us more business."

That, in effect, was what he used to do as a high-powered, $750-an-hour lobbyist, until his spectacular downfall. He was convicted on a range of charges, including conspiracy to bribe lawmakers with gifts, travel and meals at his pricey restaurant, Signatures, on Pennsylvania Avenue, and essentially became the face of the so-called "culture of corruption" in Washington. His subsequent cooperation with federal authorities helped bring down, among others, U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican, and aides to then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

He was sentenced in November 2006 to almost six years in prison and sent to a federal prison camp in Cumberland. On June 9, he was released to a halfway house on East Monument Street in Baltimore, where he was expected to remain until Dec. 4.


http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-abramoff-pizza-20100622,0,668124.story

[Arkana]

1. This is the best thing.

[thelordofhell]

2. The best thing would be......

making him work in an Indian Casino.

[tanyev]

3. No hours in the kitchen?

[SunnySong]

4. Good for him he is getting on with his life I genuinely wish him well.

[and-justice-for-all]

17. You forgot your sarcasm tag...nt

[sandnsea]

5. Not even 4 years. Disgusting.

I know people with minor traffic violations who are still struggling to pay them off.

[TroglodyteScholar]

6. +1

The damage this guy did, he should be locked indefinitely in a cell so isolated they won't even notice when he kicks off.

[Bobbieo]

8. The best thing about the Abramof saga is that he was 'nailed' by the

native tribes he was scamming. Now, that is poetic justice!!!!

[Octafish]

13. Wonder if he'll ever have to answer for Gus Boulis?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-927boulismurder,0,6594337.story

[MagickMuffin]

14. I've been wondering about Gus as well

Has anyone gone to trial for the murder of Gus?!?!?

I haven't heard much of anything about this since they arrested Anthony ``Big Tony'' Moscatiello, Anthony ``Little Tony'' Ferrari, and James ``Pudgy'' Fiorillo. :shrug:


:hi: Octafish

[Taverner]

7. Glad he's out of politics

Honestly, if Dubya was a Junior High Baseball Coach and PE teacher, wouldn't we all be better off today?

[madinmaryland]

9. If *'s cocaine felony bust had been prosecuted, we never would have had

the fucking mess that we are in.

Imagine, no 9/11.

[devilgrrl]

15. Is he out of politics for good?

I sure as %#@* hope so! :mad:

I never want to see that man near any house of power ever again. :mad:

[Edweird]

10. "Marketing" "To get us more business" Hehe. Maybe something like this:

[tanyev]

16. Or wearing a pizza slice costume!

That would be awesome.

[trof]

11. 'Kosher pizza' makes my head spin.

:shrug:

[Vinnie From Indy]

12. Is there any doubt that there are different levels of justice in America?

There are literally thousands of people in jail for having a few pounds of weed serving ten and twenty year sentences while ol' Jack can steal millions and he gets out in four. Also, I hope nobody is fooled by this gig at the Pizza place. Abramoff probably still has oodles of money stashed somewhere and there are probably many people willing to make sure Jack is taken care of to keep his mouth shut about crimes that are still secret.