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Guilty Plea For Another Abramoff Crony
James Hirni, the former lobbyist who was charged last month in connection with the wide-ranging Jack Abamoff probe, pleaded guilty today to providing an all-expenses paid trip to the World Series in New York to two congressional staffers, including entertainment at a strip club and a chauffeur-driven SUV.
Hirni was at the time a lobbyist for an equipment rental company that was pushing legislation in Congress. He recently was fired from his job doing "Republican outreach" for Wal-Mart, after news of the charges surfaced.
One of the two staffers who received the free trip, Trevor Blackann, a former aide to GOP senator Kit Bond, pleaded guilty last month to failing to disclose the trip on his tax returns.
Hirni's lawyer last month told ABCNews.com that Hirni is cooperating with prosecutors, suggesting that the feds are still working to build cases against bigger fish.
Josh
Zachary
That photo of Abramoff is just weird. He looks like he is in a period costume, but I can't determine which period.
December 12, 2008 5:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you - I think it's the 1930s - you know, the Elliott Ness era in Chicago.
December 13, 2008 12:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any time Republicans think they have enough ammo to talk about a Democratic "culture of corruption", remember one word: Abramoff. He's the scandal that never ends. Yes, I know, I could have used the word "KBR", or "Blackwater", or "Abu Ghraib".
December 12, 2008 5:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Come on the man . . . the girls weren't stripper the were my niece's nephews friends who just like baseball with congressional aides. The Chauffeur was a friend of friend and liked to people around the city because he loves NY! It's all simply a misunderstanding!
Seriously, I can not believe that this gift just keeps on, keeping on.
But it is good to know that their is some justice out there after the last 7 years.
Oh, wait why I am blogging about this minor story when I could blog about BLAGO?
December 12, 2008 6:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Abramoff...
Isn't he the guy who never met Bush... or his staff...
Or was never actually on a list of WH visitors... and never really had his picture taken with the President.. or... or...
just another crook in a wide open field of crooked leaders.. and cronies...
December 12, 2008 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here's a way to twist some screws: agitate for a ban on lobbyist-funded strip-club visits. Just make them off-limits in terms of gifts. It doesn't comport with my personal morals, but it would sure be funny to see the positions taken and responses made.
December 13, 2008 1:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hey Jack! The thirties called and they want their hat back!
Naw, I'm just hatin' cause I don't have one.
December 13, 2008 6:44 AM | Reply | Permalink