Jack Abramoff

House Committee Pressing Abramoff Investigation

Paul Kiel | July 20, 2006, 2:27PM

This looks like the real deal.

The House Government Reform Committee has been investigating the ties between Jack Abramoff and the White House since at least March. The Washington Post broke the news Saturday that Abramoff's lobbying firm Greenberg Traurig had been subpoenaed by the committee. Today Roll Call's John Bresnahan has much more (sub. req.), revealing that the investigation extends to Abramoff's earlier firm Preston Gates and also Alexander Strategy Group, the now-defunct lobby shop run by Ed Buckham, Tom DeLay's former chief of staff who was very close to Abramoff.

Very quietly, the committee, helmed by Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), has been gathering these documents since early March. They're investigating in order “to understand the nature and extent of Jack Abramoff’s interactions with public officials in the executive branch, including the White House, and the legislative branch,” according to a letter from the Committee to Greenberg Traurig's attorney. No hearings have been scheduled yet.

Here's why I'm inclined to think that this is legit. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) is the ranking member on the committee. All indications are that he's fully on board. In the past, he's never been shy about complaining publicly when he thinks an investigation is lacking.

Read more »

William Jefferson

Nigerian VP: No Bribes for Me

Paul Kiel | July 20, 2006, 1:59PM

Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, whose Maryland home was searched as part of the FBI's investigation of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) last August, has finally spoken.

He's innocent, he says. And his lawyer told The New York Times that “there is nothing linking the vice president with Congressman Jefferson except Mr. Jefferson’s own false, self-serving statements.”

By that, I assume the lawyer is referring to the many statements Jefferson made to the FBI's informant about getting Abubakar's help with a Nigerian business deal. Jefferson and Lori Mody, a businesswoman who wore a wire during their many conversations, discussed paying Abubakar $500,000 up front and much more after the deal went through. The $90,000 found in Jefferson's freezer was part of a bribe intended for Abubakar, according to FBI transcripts. It remains a mystery whether Jefferson decided to simply keep the bribe for himself.

Read my earlier post on Abubakar for the complete rundown.

Tom DeLay

Texas County Republicans Petition Judges on DeLay Case

Paul Kiel | July 20, 2006, 1:23PM

I'm no lawyer, but I don't think this is the way the system works.

In a couple of weeks, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether Tom DeLay must remain on the ballot in Texas' 22nd District. Both parties are submitting their briefs, and there might a number of amicus briefs from third parties (like, for instance, the Texas Attorney General). But Harris County Republicans are taking a more direct approach -- they've posted a petition on their website, which they say "will be delivered directly to the 5th Circuit."

It's not clear what that means, and the party's website doesn't explain. The judges would not be able to accept a petition unless it came in the form of an amicus brief. My calls to the Party for explanation were not returned. The Harris County Republican Party seems to be the only one of the four county Republican committees in DeLay's district to take this tack.

The short petition calls the decision by Judge Sam Sparks to keep DeLay on the ballot a "travesty of justice."

James Bopp, counsel for the Texas Republicans on the case, hadn't heard of the petition before I called and wouldn't comment further. Chad Dunn, who's representing the Democrats, called it "an act of desperation."

via Brazos River

Update: An eagle-eyed TPMm reader writes in to point out that this looks like an excellent means for the party to collect voter information. So is this brilliant or bone-headed? Or both?

Katherine Harris

Second Harris Staffer Talks to Feds

Paul Kiel | July 20, 2006, 11:34AM

Prosecutors aren't stopping with one former senior staffer to Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) - a second one is scheduled to talk with them soon.

Harris, you'll remember has been caught up in the sprawling Duke Cunningham investigation -- admitted felon Mitchell Wade, who bribed Cunningham, feted Harris, showered her with campaign contributions, and Harris made an unsuccessful $10 million earmark for Wade's company.

Fred Asbell, Harris' chief of staff who quit in June, reportedly has a date with prosecutors. Ed Rollins, a former consultant to her Senate campaign, spoke to them a couple of weeks ago. He says they talked about Harris' relationship to Wade, and that "They seemed to know everything I did and more."

And here's more about Harris' denial that she's "a target," which as we pointed out yesterday, is part of our patented TPMmuckraker Political Scandal Process. From The St. Petersburg Times:

Former federal prosecutors say her vague statement doesn't necessarily mean she's in the clear.

"If she's not a target, that's nice, but that doesn't mean she's not under scrutiny," said Ed Page, a former federal prosecutor who works at the Carlton Fields law firm in Tampa. "It's sort of a play on words."

*****

Reached at his Washington home this week, Asbell refused to say whom he was or wasn't talking to but responded to Harris' statement that she was not a target. "I don't know where she is getting her information," he said.

Tom DeLay

ARMPAC, R.I.P.

Paul Kiel | July 20, 2006, 11:13AM

Looks like former Majority Leader Tom DeLay's (R-TX) political action committee is going out with a bang.

For many years, DeLay used Americans for a Republican Majority to dole out millions to Republican House candidates. It shouldn't surprise that the group had a laundry list of accounting issues -- and to settle them, they'll be forced to cough up $115,000 to the FEC as the group's final act.

From Political Money Line:

The Federal Election Commission and former Rep. Tom DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC) have agreed to a conciliation agreement [.pdf] for violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, as amended. The violations include failure to properly report its receipts, disbursements and cash on hand; failure to report outstanding debts and obligations; and failure to properly pay for shared federal and non-federal disbursements.

The committee failed to accurately report $74,295 in financial activity on 2001 and $166,340 in 2002. The committee failed to report debts and obligations to twenty-five vendors totaling $322,306. The non-federal account overpaid its share of allocable expenses by $203,483. The committee used incorrect ratios to allocate is disbursements, and the non-federal account overpaid its portion of generic voter drives by $121,456, and fundraising events by $9,414.The non-federal account overpaid $95,386 in fundraising expenses that should have been charges to the federal account.

Update: CREW calls this "one of the 50 largest fines ever obtained by the FEC in its 30-year history. "

Tom DeLay

Wash Times: Dems, Be Careful of What You Wish For

Paul Kiel | July 20, 2006, 10:31AM

Noted without comment:

Democrats' efforts to force former Rep. Tom DeLay to stand for re-election in Texas could backfire, Republicans say.

Friends of the former House Republican boss say Mr. DeLay -- who retired to Virginia last month after being implicated in the Jack Abramoff scandal and indicted by a Texas prosecutor -- is willing to wage a full-scale campaign for the seat if Democrats succeed in preventing the Texas Republican Party from replacing him on the November ballot.

"This whole thing could explode in the Democrats' face," says Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican. "He has indicated that if called back into battle, he'll fight -- and I'd say his chances of keeping this seat in Republican hands are pretty good."

Bob Ney

DoJ Rule Makes Ney Indictment-Proof?

Paul Kiel | July 20, 2006, 1:40AM

Rep. Bob Ney's (R-OH) latest, from the department of wishful thinking:

Ney, a committee chairman until the scandal erupted, has told several colleagues and aides that the Justice Department has a rule against indicting members within 90 days of an election, increasing his chances of victory. A Justice official said there is no such rule. Ney spokeswoman Katie Harbath said, "We don't comment on Ney's conversations with other members."

Hmm. So according to Ney's Rule, he'll be home free if he can make it to August 9th. It's July 20th now; twenty more days of peril for him, and then he's home free until November. I'd believe that too, if I were Bob Ney.

As I noted before, Ohio Republicans must be hoping that if Ney is indicted (and there's very little reason to think that he won't), it happens before August 19th, after which time it would become much more difficult for Ney to be replaced on the ballot.

OH GOP Sen Campaign Runs Doctored 9/11 Ad

Paul Kiel | July 19, 2006, 10:16PM

Boy, oh boy. Earlier this week, Sen. Mike Dewine (R-OH) drew controversy for using images of 9/11 in an attack ad, which assails Dem candidate Sherrod Brown's commitment to national security. The ad came shortly after Republicans attacked Democrats for running an ad with images of flag-draped coffins on the internet.

But that wasn't the end of it. The image of the burning twin towers in the ad was doctored. As Dewine's spokesman admitted to U.S. News and World Report, "the image of the burning towers in the ad is a still photo with computer-generated smoke added."

Luckily, Greg Sargent and the team over at Election Central captured the original ad, and from this still, it's hard to believe that this went unnoticed for so long:

Here's U.S. News' expert explaining how very fake the image is:

Read more »

John Doolittle

Campaign Money Continues Flow to CA Rep's Wife

Paul Kiel | July 19, 2006, 2:42PM

Rep. John Doolittle's (R-CA) wife, who's been pocketing a 15 percent cut of contributions to his policitcal action committee for the last several years, is on pace for a banner year - if she and her husband don't get indicted first.

Roll Call's Paul Kane found (sub. req.) that "from April 1 through June 30, she collected more than $35,000 in commissions from the John T. Doolittle for Congress committee, one of her highest-grossing quarters ever, according to filings with the FEC."

William Jefferson

Prosecutors Get Hands on Jefferson Docs

Paul Kiel | July 19, 2006, 2:04PM

Another bad turn for Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) - a federal judge has ruled (sub. req.) that prosecutors may see the documents seized by the FBI from Jefferson's congressional office in its May raid. We've posted a copy of the judge's opinion here.

As I wrote before, the race is on to see whether Jefferson will be indicted before the November election. Today's ruling makes that more likely.

That's what the judge hopes, anyway. In his ruling, he made it clear that he denied Jefferson's request to protect the documents pending his appeal because of "the public’s interest in a prompt and final outcome of the government’s investigation of serious crimes involving a sitting United States Congressman running for re-election in November."

In this unprecedented case, there are still complications ahead for prosecutors. The Justice Department has created a special "filter team" to determine whether documents seized in the raid are constitutionally protected legislative materials or whether they can be seen by prosecutors. In every case, Jefferson's lawyer will get to contest the filter team's decision.

Jerry Lewis

Investigated CA Rep Got Lucky with Investment in Buddy's Bank

Paul Kiel | July 19, 2006, 1:18PM

Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) stars in "How To Get Rich(er) without Really Trying."

Katherine Harris

Another Day, Another Aide Gone from Harris Campaign

Paul Kiel | July 19, 2006, 12:41PM

Not sure how we missed this.

Rep. Katherine Harris' (R-FL) speechwriter is the latest defection from the campaign, but couldn't resist leaving off with a bang. In an email she sent around to friends on her departure, she wrote:

Value of "George Harris Legacy Loan" to Senate campaign: $10 million

Value of "refurbishments" to Capitol Hill residence: $100,000

Value of Handing in my Resignation Letter: Priceless

She added "No, I do not have a job lined up.... But I have my dignity and a smidgen of the sanity I had when I came to work here."

via Wonkette.

TPMm Readers: Lay Off the Dogs

Paul Kiel | July 19, 2006, 11:39AM

Note to readers: Justin and I both love dogs. Especially rescue dogs.

We've gotten a couple of emails from readers on the lead item in today's Daily Muck, on the recent GAO report on waste within the Department of Homeland Security. The New York Times reported that the department had spent over $68,000 on unused dog booties - "the boots ended up in a FEMA warehouse and have not been used." The booties are used to protect rescue dogs' paws, but apparently dogs in the region are "not accustomed to wearing booties."

Read more »

Ralph Reed

Judgment Day for Ralph Reed

Paul Kiel | July 18, 2006, 4:00PM

Don't think we've forgotten, TPMm readers. It's Ralph's big day down in Georgia, as voters line up for what many see as a referendum on the Jack Abramoff scandal (here's our brief for how he ties in). Reed is running to be the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor.

Check in here for election returns this evening - all signs are that it will be a squeaker.

State Dept.: No Free Evacuations for Dead Americans, Either

Paul Kiel | July 18, 2006, 2:55PM

Alive or dead, Uncle Sam doesn't give any free rides.

Earlier I noted that the State Department, in stark contrast to the Canadian government, is requiring U.S. citizens caught in Lebanon to pay for the cost of their evacuation. (Rep. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has since weighed in, saying that this was no time "for quibbling over payment for evacuation.")

I called up the State Department to ask about the policy. "We are not standing there with a cash box asking people to pay before they get on the boat," spokeswoman Janelle Hironimus told me. But if they don't pay (by check, no cash or credit cards accepted), or sign a form promising to pay, they don't go. It's the law: "Reasonable commercial air fare" shall be charged to all evacuees.

What if they're dead?

Same deal, she said. No freebies, even if you're not around to enjoy it.

Hironimus said that she didn't know the exact fee being charged. Evacuees are signing promissory notes. Those citizens will find out how much they owe when they get the bill in the mail.

And if a U.S. citizen is killed waiting to evacuate -- or because they stayed behind, unable to promise their government they could pay?

"We arrange with their families," Hironimus said. "We discuss their choices, but it’s paid for by the families."

In any case, the spokeswoman assured me, no one would get left behind.

Trapped in Beirut? Uncle Sam Can Get You Out -- For a Price

Paul Kiel | July 18, 2006, 12:20PM

You want to get out of the war zone that Lebanon is fast becoming? Reach for your wallet.

In a message to American citizens trapped in Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy's website reads: "The Department of State reminds American citizens that the U.S. government does not provide no-cost transportation." For those unfortunate enough to be weathering the bombing and also have empty pockets, the government offers a "repatriation loan" - citizens will get a bill once they land safely in the States.

This is in stark contrast to Canada, which advises its citizens that "All costs related to the evacuation of Canadians citizens from Lebanon will be borne by the Government of Canada."

People trapped there, of course, have little other recourse for evacuation, since the airport and major roads have been bombed.

When I called the State Department about the policy, I was promised a call back and told "You're not the first one to ask." So we expect an answer soon.

New Hampshire Phone Jamming

NH Phone Jammer Still Working The Phones? He Says No.

Paul Kiel | July 17, 2006, 5:57PM

Last week, the Senate Majority Project dredged up the fact that Allen Raymond, whose consulting firm was hired to jam New Hampshire Democratic phone banks on Election Day in 2002, appeared to still be in the teleservices business.

But Raymond, who's been out of jail for only about five weeks, told me that he's "effectively out of politics" and says he's moved on to a career in real estate investment.

Read more »

Ralph Reed

Reed Blames Tribes for Laundering Scheme

Paul Kiel | July 17, 2006, 12:36PM

The Indians made me do it.

On the eve of a tense primary election, that's Ralph Reed's defense against corruption accusations that threaten to capsize his candidacy for Georgia lieutenant governor.

Reed is suffering some punishing body blows from his opponent for his schemes to use money from Indian casinos to pay for Christian anti-gambling efforts -- by funneling the cash through shell companies to disguise its true source.

The charges have been around for months, of course -- accompanied by ample evidence that Reed played a key role in concocting the schemes and putting them into practice. To date he has dodged the allegations by first claiming ignorance of the clients, and then woodenly chiming that "Had I known then what I know now, I would not have undertaken the work."

But yesterday, he changed his tune -- and blamed the Indians. During a debate with his primary opponent Saturday, Reed claimed:

I would have been happy if they [Abramoff's tribal clients] paid me directly. They were the ones who made the decision that I would be paid through nonprofits.

Quick reality check: It has been long-established that Abramoff's casino-owning tribal clients hired Reed to whip up religious anti-gambling fervor and use it to squash any neighboring competition. In order to obscure the fact that Abramoff's casino money was funding Reed's anti-gambling campaigns, the money was funneled through various entities (shell companies and non-profits) before making its way to Reed. Read all the nitty-gritty here.

McCain's Senate investigation found that the funneling had been Reed's idea, because that is what the tribal representatives told investigators.

Read more »

William Jefferson

Hastert and Pelosi: On Second Thought....

Paul Kiel | July 17, 2006, 8:11AM

Well, well, well. Last week I pointed out that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) seemed remarkably quiet after a federal judge ruled that the FBI's raid of Rep. William Jefferson's (D-LA) congressional office was constitutional.

That was in stark contrast to the duo's hard-line stance shortly after the raid, when they demanded that the FBI "immediately return" the documents to Jefferson. They were fighting to ensure the separation of powers, to uphold the constitution -- they were going to fight this thing to the end!

Now Roll Call reports (sub. req.) that the House leadership, having lost the first round in the courts, probably won't even be appealing the judge's decision. It seems that neither figure is willing to stick their neck out alone to defend Jefferson, fearing it could tar them as pro-corruption. Also, since those heady times in May when Hastert and Pelosi bonded over their outrage, a number of lawmakers have privately complained to the leadership that this is not a battle that is best fought publicly.

If they decide not to appeal, the paper notes, the leadership could recruit surrogates -- "prominent former lawmakers" and "legal experts" -- to take up their cause in the courts.

Tom DeLay

Texas GOP To Wait until Early August for Ruling

Paul Kiel | July 17, 2006, 8:07AM

There will be at least two more weeks for Nick Lampson, the Democratic candidate for Tom DeLay's seat, to enjoy campaigning without an opponent.

The GOP nomination will remain in limbo until early August, which is when the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will rule on whether DeLay will be forced to stay on the ballot, according to Roll Call (sub. req.). If he and the Texas Republicans lose, then he'll be forced to decide whether to get back in the race or allow Lampson to run for the seat without a GOP opponent.

In the meantime, the clock is ticking...

Jack Abramoff

Committee Subpoenas Abramoff Firm for White House Contacts

Paul Kiel | July 16, 2006, 12:11AM

What's this?

The House Government Reform Committee has subpoenaed the former law firm of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff for records of any contacts he or members of his lobbying team had with the Bush White House.

Chairman Thomas M. Davis III (R-Va.) authorized a subpoena weeks ago to Greenberg Traurig, according to several of the law firm's former clients who have been notified that it is turning over billing records, e-mails, phone logs and other material that reflects efforts to lobby the White House.

Representatives of four of Abramoff's former tribal clients said they have been notified by Greenberg Traurig that the firm is turning over records. In some cases, there were scores of phone calls or other contacts with the White House....

The subpoena -- read to The Washington Post by a former client who received a copy from Greenberg Traurig -- seeks all firm billing records "referring or relating to matters involving Jack Abramoff or any person working with Jack Abramoff," as well as all records reflecting any contacts those lobbyists had with the White House. The subpoena seeks records from Jan. 1, 1998, to the present, though Abramoff did not begin work at Greenberg Traurig until early 2001.