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Boulanger Pleads Guilty
Goodbye Savile Row, hello orange jumpsuit.
Todd Boulanger, the fashion-forward former lobbyist and Jack Abramoff crony who was indicted earlier this week for bribing government aides, has pleaded guilty, reports the Associated Press.
Boulanger has been cooperating with the investigation, according to his lawyer. Under the terms of his plea deal, prosecutors are recommending that he spend 18-24 months in prison, with reduced time if he continues to cooperate.
Boulanger was an aide to Sen. Bob Smith, a New Hampshire GOPer, before working with Abramoff as a lobbyist.
Court documents suggested that Boulanger and other members of Team Abramoff had schemed to provide a staffer to Mississippi senator Thad Cochran with tickets for concerts, ice skating, and other events.
Separate court records suggested that Boulanger also helped arrange a an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2003 World Series for Trevor Blackann, a former aide to Missouri senator Kit Bond. In November, Blackann pleaded guilty to making false statements on his tax returns in an effort to conceal the gift.
Josh
Zachary
Let's be clear hear: the favors and gifts 'traded' by Todd Boulanger and Trevor Blackann—no matter what their roles in the process—were done specifically with the intent to improperly influence legislation, and directed at parties such as Senators Smith and Bond.
When are the clowns at the top of the pyramid going to be held accountable?
January 30, 2009 5:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK. Todd Boulanger is guilty of giving bribes to aides and staffers.
Why aren't those aides and staffers also guilty of accepting bribes? Or is accepting bribes less criminal than giving bribes?
February 3, 2009 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I still believe, instead of giving reduced sentences for cooperation, enhanced sentences for lack of cooperation would be much more benefit to society. When iits all said and done, the prosecutions will get big rewards for solving cases and the crooks will get almost no penalty... and our society will once again lose much... IMHO
January 31, 2009 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
'a former aide to Missouri senator Kit Bond'
Might one assume Mr. Bond knew about this crap, all along, and possibly even benefited himself?
How rare is it the lower heads on a totem pole get anything that the top head doesn't share in.
Bond, like Blunt, Blunt and Ashcroft, are part of that Missouri milieu that has a similar reputtin as New Jersey or Louisiana; sleaze is just part of the rpocess, as far as they are concerned, and as long as that sleaze benefits them personally and politically, they are quite willing to let it go on.
Only this time, it mushroomed into the culture of corruption that has taken down the whole Republican Party.
January 31, 2009 10:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
How soon do they get to Roy Blunt? I'm looking forward to then.
January 31, 2009 10:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm waiting for Grover Norquist to show up on an indictment ledger. he was as close as anyone to Abramoff. He allegedly was connected with the transfer of money somehow between Abramoff and Ralph Reed.
February 2, 2009 3:34 PM | Reply | Permalink