The Honorable Speaker of the House

[Berzerker]

Jack Abramoff went around to casino owning Indian tribes selling "access" probably with assurances of protecting their interests in Congress, which effectively included protection from neighboring tribes. I imagine Abramoff and friends told their Indian clients they would block the attempts of neighbors building casinos that would cut into their profits.

House Speaker Denny Hastert (R-Ill) got $21,000 from Jack Abramoff. About a week later Denny Hastert sent a letter to Gale Norton at the Dept of the Interior expressing his desire (and allegedly the desire of Congress) to block an Indian casino down in Louisiana. Jack Abramoff respresented the neighbors...

This was presented tonight on Hardball and if it is true, this is an impeachable offense. Can we impeach house members? The Founders considered bribery serious enough to include it as either a guide for ~defining "high crimes and misdemeanors" or as a separate offense worthy of making it into the Constitution.

Senator Sam Brownback (R-Ks) took $42,000 from Abramoff, which helped enlighten the spokesman of the Wyandotte Indians as to why Brownback has been blocking their attempt to build a casino in Kansas City on land they've had since the 1850s. Abramoff's clients just happened to include neighboring tribes with casinos.

While I can understand the motive of Democrats to let the blood flow since the Repubs will do more bleeding, I'm surprised the Repubs have not suppressed these investigations. Well, maybe they have but they couldn't stop it, but it looks to me like the justice dept is basicly running an unimpeded operation. Has there been attempts at a cover up (and I dont mean Faux "News").

[Sava]

Hastert = fux0r

The Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan watchdog group, said Hastert had received $69,000 from Abramoff and Indian tribes represented by the lobbyist.

link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...,6840973.story

[DanS]

I haven't heard anything about a coverup. Maybe the GOP thought there wasn't anything there to cover up or they thought the Dems wouldn't push it because it would ensnare a lot of them too (remember the House Bank scandal?).

Admittedly, these don't seem like great reasons, but it's the best that I can do on short notice.

[Berzerker]

Yeah, bi-partisan scandals are more difficult to unearth until long after the fact. I remember hearing that Dukakis wanted to use the S&L collapse and scandal in his '88 election against Bush 1 but was told to back off by fellow Democrats. But the Dems had control of the House then so they could enforce a cover up, the Repubs have control of 2 branches but dont seem to be blocking the justice dept.

Damage control wont stop this steamroller, my admittedly low expectations and faith in government is being tested. If heads dont roll this government wont have any credibility... Bureaucraps save Democracy!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Re: The Honorable Speaker of the House

Originally posted by Berzerker
This was presented tonight on Hardball and if it is true, this is an impeachable offense. Can we impeach house members? The Founders considered bribery serious enough to include it as either a guide for ~defining "high crimes and misdemeanors" or as a separate offense worthy of making it into the Constitution.

No... Congressman cannot be impeached. They can be censured by the Congress, however, and removed by the rest of the members voting to do so (IIRC, that's how Trafficant lost his seat). Otherwise, it's up to the voters.

[Berzerker]

What if Traficant had been convicted and Congress did nothing? Would he retain his seat until voted out even though he was in prison? For some reason I seem to remember its possible for someone to have a seat and be in jail too...

[DanS]

I'm not sure, but perhaps congressional pensions are unavailable for those removed from office.

Whatever the reason, the member usually resigns his office well before censure is discussed seriously...

[The Mad Monk]

Maybe they're givng Reid time to cook.

He's produced several wonderful quotables so far.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Berzerker
What if Traficant had been convicted and Congress did nothing? Would he retain his seat until voted out even though he was in prison? For some reason I seem to remember its possible for someone to have a seat and be in jail too...

I believe so, but DanS is correct that usually they resign. But I doubt Congress would stand pat. They are aware of their reputation and try to counter it whenever they can, as long as it isn't too difficult.

[Berzerker]

Harry Reid, Senator from Nevada? His defense? He's from Nevada, of course he's going to take money from gambling interests

What did you do for the money, Senator?

[The Mad Monk]

On the Senate side, Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), now the Senate minority leader, also wrote Ms. Norton in opposition to the casino. The letter was dated March 5, 2002. On March 6, 2002, one of Mr. Abramoff's tribal clients wrote a $5,000 check to Mr. Reid's Searchlight Leadership Fund. "There is absolutely no connection between the letter and the fundraising," said Mr. Reid's spokesman, Jim Manley. Another coincidence! Mr. Reid's Abramoff-related total: $66,000 between 2001 and 2004.

And so it goes, according to an account by Associated Press reporters John Solomon and Sharon Theimer. They reveal that nearly three dozen members of Congress pressed to block the Jena casino as they harvested checks from rival tribes and from Mr. Abramoff.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/17/AR2005111701469.html

Reid received $6,500 from Abramoff's associates at the Greenberg Traurig law and lobbying firm from 1999 through 2004, The Washington Post reported Friday.

During the same period, Reid received $40,500 from Indian tribes that were Abramoff clients, the paper reported based on research of federal records.

Reid does not know Abramoff, Reid spokeswoman Tessa Hafen said.

But Abramoff hired Eddie Ayoob, who was Reid's legislative counsel until 2002 and was assistant finance director on Reid's 1998 Senate campaign.

Ayoob held a fund-raising reception for Reid at the offices of Greenberg Traurig, according to The Washington Post.

Calls to Ayoob on Friday were not returned. Ayoob left Greenberg Traurig earlier this year to join Barnes & Thornburg, another Washington law firm.

Hafen said Ayoob has not done any fund-raising for Reid this year. But, she added, "there is no reason to expect that he will not continue to raise money."

Reid declined an interview request Friday. Hafen said he sees no reason to return the money.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2005/Jun-04-Sat-2005/news/26662729.html

And the punchline:

"Don't lump me in with Jack Abramoff. This is a Republican scandal," Reid told Fox News Sunday, saying he never received any money from Abramoff.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051218/pl_nm/congress_ethics_dc_2

[GePap]

So 75% of the Man's money at least goes to the repugs, including the House majority, the whip, the majority leader (indicted), and what is the big story for TMM? The Senate minority leader.... cause he is a democrat...

Off course, makes sense....wait, NO.

[DanS]

Personally, I think that these letters were bought amazingly cheaply, if they were bought. Hookers are more expensive.

[Provost Harrison]

Jack Abramoff...what a name

[The Mad Monk]

I was wondering when someone would bring that...up.