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Indictment: Heather Wilson's Office Tied to Abramoff

The Abramoff corruption probe has already snared one GOP Congressman, Bob Ney, and implicated a few more, most prominently Rep. John Doolittle of California. But could there be another to add to the list: Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico?

An examination by TPMmuckraker of the indictment of former Jack Abramoff associate Kevin Ring, filed yesterday, suggests that Wilson's office was tied in to Abramoff's corruption network at a level not previously known. And John McCain's 2005 investigation into Abramoff's fleecing of Indian tribes, which McCain conducted as chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, made no mention of that fact.

The Ring indictment contains the following statements from prosecutors:

On or about January 30, 2003, a lobbyist at Firm B emailed a staffer for the New Mexico tribe's U.S. Representative, "Sorry I couldn't hangout last night. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to han[g]out with the [New Mexico tribe]. It meant a lot to [K]evin and I [sic]. BTW, you should be all set for the [Los Angeles] Clippers [basketball] game."

And:
On or about February 14, 2003, a lobbyist at Firm B forwarded an email from the staffer for the New Mexico tribe's U.S. Representative to defendant RING in which the staffer had written, "How did Kevin' s meetings with the [New Mexico tribe] go? If you guys lose that contract I would be disappointed."

And:
On or about March 4, 2003, a lobbyist at Firm B emailed defendant RING, "I'm going to kill [the New Mexico tribe] with [its U.S. Representative] if we don't get hired."

And:
On or about March 7, 2003, a lobbyist at Firm B emailed defendant RING, "[ The staffer for the New Mexico tribe' s U.S. Representative] is going to be in the meeting with [the New Mexico tribe] when they come to town. He's going to give the 'are you guys staying with [Firm B] this cycle? They did a great job on . . . legislation . . . and really cleared the path for you guys . . . . . yadda yadda.' He's gonna gather as much intel as possible for us."

It's clear from identifying details in the indictment -- which refers to a New Mexico Indian tribe that hired Abramoff's firm, Greenberg Traurig around March 2002 -- that the tribe is the Sandia Pueblo Indians, who are represented in Congress by Wilson. So in other words, a staffer for Wilson was actively involved in helping Ring and Greenberg Traurig (Firm B, where Ring worked at the time), retain their contract to represent the Sandia Indians. And Ring's Greenberg partner -- most likely Abramoff himself, but certainly a member of Abramoff's team at Greenberg -- believed he had the power to affect decisions made by Rep. Wilson concerning the tribe's interests.

A spokesman for Rep. Wilson declined to comment on the information in the indictment.

We already knew that Wilson had accepted political contributions from both Abramoff himself and David Safavian, a former Abramoff crony and Bush administration official convicted for obstruction of justice as part of the Abramoff probe. But the information in the indictment suggests that her office worked with Abramoff more closely that has yet been reported.

Wilson has been a stalwart supporter and prominent surrogate for John McCain, painting him as a crusader against Washington corruption. Just last night, she appeared on MSNBC's Hardball to make the case for him, and last week she told NPR: "John McCain has chosen a reformer ... to be his running mate and I think that's a perfect complement to who he is and what he's done in his life."

Wilson may have good reason to hold the GOP nominee in high regard. In his 2005 Senate investigation, McCain had access to the Greenberg Traurig email trove, presumably including the ones cited by prosecutors in the Ring indictment highlighted above. But his final report generally avoided focusing on members of Congress, and omitted any mention of Wilson.


21 Comments

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Wilson is as sycophantic and self-serving a repug remora as has ever swam with the likes of Pete Domenici (although, truth be told, she more closely resembles a Lake Erie lamprey). Hope she takes a few of her hosts down with her.

Am I to infer that you don't like her very much?

My main question stems from the desire to go to a Clippers game in 2003. They were on their way to finish 32 games behind first place Sacramento. The only home game around that time was a game against the Phoenix Suns, which the clippers lost.

That right there, wanting to go to a clippers game, is a serious error in judgment. Why not go for the Lakers?

The Lakers played the following night, and this was in the midst of the Shaq and Kobe years.

I can't figure out who in their right mind would accept tickets from a lobbyist to a clippers game. Slap the lobbyist around and tell him to pony up for the good tickets to the good game.

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I am always amazed at how cheaply these guys can be bought off.

McCain had been telling the press that the report from his Senate Committee investigating Abramoff was going to have serious repercussions, but as I recall it did not implicate DeLay or Doolittle. They reported on Doolittle's and his wife's connection to Abramoff.
Could TPM check, because I think McCain's report saw nothing wrong with the money Doolittle's wife got.
This does not reflect well on McCain's maverick image. He does favors, political favors.

Ah yes. Another non MSM story. I am so curious why so few are unafraid to take all this corruption to heart. Blackmail? Wierd.

Ah yes. Another non MSM story. I am so curious why so few are unafraid to take all this corruption to heart. Blackmail? Wierd.

Ah yes. Another non MSM story. I am so curious why so few are unafraid to take all this corruption to heart. Blackmail? Wierd.

Ah the closeted self-hating(Self identified anti-gay) lesbian is getting snagged...bwahahahahahahaha...this one is an abomination.....she and her testosterone induced vocal folds needs to be locked up....LMAO...I knew this whench was a crook!

So many scandals so little time! I'm trying to compile Sarah Palin's 100 biggest lies so far. Need help, stop by the blog.
twocanpete

bwahahhaah another closeted lesbian(self proclaimed anti-gay pro-life heffa) is getting SNAGGED....LMAO...I knew she was a CROOK

funny how this crook is up on MSNBC defending Palin and spinning lies about the Bridge to Nowhere.

funny how this crook is up on MSNBC defending Palin and spinning lies about the Bridge to Nowhere.

I remember seeing her in an interview and thinking how damn "SMUG" she looked and sounded !!

No green chile in jail! Ha ha!

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Farging finally. Wilson shoulda been locked two years ago.

This is the same Heather Wilson who allegedly had improper contact with David Iglesias over a pending case, no?

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/todays_must_read_324.php

Yeah you should of heard her and her fellow New Mexican debate in the senate primary, which she lost, btw.

She is a self serving hack that bends wherever the political winds blow.

I didn't like her, her mealy mouse approach belies the hard baller she is. I'm glad she is exposed and glad she is not the heir apparent to pajama pete's seat.

Disliked her immediately after she stood next to GWB in support of the Iraq debacle.

Anyone ever at the other end of her barrel when she was a cop?

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Sad But True,

Of farging course.

RLA

She lies so easily and drones on and on and on. Whenever I see her coming on, I hit the mute button. She is repulsive. Same with the other Republican defenders. That button was pretty active today. I watched for quite awhile just to hear Obama's remarks repeated. Finally, I just had to turn to TV off. Best action.

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