Edwin A. Buckham is a former congressional staffer and lobbyist, who presently is under investigation in various scandals surrounding high-profile lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Congressman Tom DeLay. Those associated with Abramoff are of special note, because Justice Department prosecutors have systematically pursued guilty pleas from such lower associates seeking testimony against Members of Congress. Buckham has been a focus of interest because if he were found to be guilty of any of the allegations, this could lead to testimony against several Congressman. [1] Court documents concerning others in the scandal appear to idnetify Buckham as a co-conspirator although not by name. Buckham has said little, but maintains his innocence, and at some point the statute of limitations will foreclose further prosecution. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... The Jack Abramoff Guam investigation involves an alleged plot by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and others to control the functions of the courts in Guam. ... The Jack Abramoff CNMI scandal involves the efforts of Jack Abramoff, other lobbyists, and government officials to change and/or prevent Congressional action regarding the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands (CNMI) and businesses on the main island of Saipan. ... The Internet Gambling Prohibition Act (IGPA) was a 1999 bill in the US Senate to ban Internet gambling defeated, in large part, by the lobbying efforts of Jack Abramoff. ... The monetary influence of Jack Abramoff run deep in Washington, as Jack Abramoff spent millions of dollars to influence and entertain Republican politicians. ... SunCruz Casinos is one of many cruise lines that offer cruises to nowhere, taking passengers into international waters out of reach of the federal and state gambling laws. ... Jack Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, a Republican political activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... Italia Federici is the President of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA). ... James Steven Griles (born December 13, 1947) is the Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior. ... William Heaton is the former chief of staff for Rep. ... Adam Kidan is a former business associate of indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who partnered with Abramoff in the purchase of SunCruz Casinos. ... Robert William Bob Ney (born July 5, 1954) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. ... Tony C. Rudy, with Ed Buckhams Alexander Strategy Group which shutdown January 9, 2006, served as Deputy Chief of Staff (and former counsel) to House Majority Leader Thomas D. DeLay (R-Texas) until 2001, when he took a job with Jack Abramoff. ... Michael Scanlon is a former communications director for Rep. ... Roger Stillwell (b. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... Mark Zachares is a former Congressional aide to Rep. ... David Hossein Safavian (suh-FAY-vee-an) was chief of staff of the United States General Services Administration (GSA), the procurement arm of the U.S. federal government and in 2004, an employee of the Office of Management and Budget. ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ... Thomas Charles Feeney III, usually known as Tom Feeney (born May 21, 1958), is a Republican politician from the state of Florida. ... Team Abramoff is the team of lobbyists assembled by Jack Abramoff when he worked at Greenberg Traurig, primarily of former aides to prominent Congressional politicians. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is the president of the noted anti-tax lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform, and a conservative activist. ... Susan Bonzon Ralston worked as an administrative assistant for Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed before being hired in 2001 as the most senior assistant to Karl Rove in The West Wing of the White House. ... Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ... Kevin A. Ring is a lobbyist and Of Counsel at the Barnes & Thornburg LLP law firm in Washington, DC. [1] On June 28, 2005, Jon Kamman reported in The Arizona Republic that Ring no longer represented the Hopi Tribe following harsh questioning by Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) on Ring... A list of organizations related to Jack Abramoff. ... List of Jack Abramoffs tribal clients: Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Pueblo of Sandia Pueblo of Santa Clara Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Tigua Indian Reservation Category: ... A listing of trips for politicians, lobbyists, and staffers funded by Jack Abramoff. ... This article belongs in one or more categories. ... Jack Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, a Republican political activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ...

Buckham became chief of staff to then Majority Whip Tom DeLay from approximately 1995 to 1998. Buckham had run the House Republican Study Committee in the early 1990s, while Tom DeLay was the Committee's Chairman. There, Buckham also hired Jim Backlin, also of Maranatha Campus Ministries, now Vice President for Legislative Affairs for the Christian Coalition previously run by Ralph Reed. In politics, a whip is a member of a political party in a legislature whose task is to ensure that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires. ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ... The Republican Study Committee is a caucus of conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives. ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Sugar Land, Texas. ... This article is about the organization presently operating in the United States. ... Ralph Reed may refer to: Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ...

After leaving Congress, Buckham became a lobbyist, including using his connections to DeLay. Buckham formed the Alexander Strategy Group, a Republican Party-associated lobbying and political strategy firm with offices in Washington DC and Hong Kong. He joined DeLay and Abramoff on trips to Russia in 1997, Scotland in 2000, and Korea in 2001 that were funded by Jack Abramoff. Alexander Strategy Group was a lobbying firm involved in the K Street Project. ... The Republican Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States of America, along with the Democratic Party. ... Lobbying is a concerted effort designed to achieve some result, typically from government authorities and elected officials. ... A listing of trips for politicians, lobbyists, and staffers funded by Jack Abramoff. ...

He is a 'lay' (non-ordained) evangelical minister, who served as an elder of the Washington DC chapter of the controversial and politically-active church, Maranatha Campus Ministries, then later as a deacon of a small church in Frederick, Maryland. Tom DeLay has referred to Buckham as DeLay's "pastor" although Buckham has never actually served as a pastor officially. The word evangelicalism usually refers to a broad collection of religious beliefs, practices, and traditions which are found among conservative Protestant Christians. ...

Political activities

Buckham founded and served as the consultant for U.S. Family Network, Inc. (USFN), a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) corporation founded in Virginia that had its principal offices in the District of Columbia. U.S. Family Network, Inc. ... 501(c)(4) refers to a provision of the United States Internal Revenue Code providing an exemption from the imposition of Federal income tax for the following kinds of entities: Civic leagues or organizations not organized for profit but operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare, or local associations...

Buckham also created and raised funds for the Republican Majority Issues Committee (RMIC), a tax-exempt 527 committee, organized as a corporation under the laws of Virginia with principal office located in Virginia. Karl Gallant, a close political ally of DeLay, ran RMIC and served as its registered agent. Gallant formerly ran Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (ARMPAC), a political action committee controlled by Tom DeLay. Buckham also consulted for ARMPAC. The Republican Majority Issues Committee (RMIC), a tax-exempt 527 committee, organized as a corporation under the laws of Virginia with its principal office located in Virginia, was created by and through the fundraising efforts of Ed Buckham, the founder of Alexander Strategy Group. ... A 527 group, named after a section of the United States tax code, is a tax-exempt organization that is created primarily to influence the nomination, election, appointment or defeat of candidates for public office. ... Karl M. Gallant, a former staffer for House Majority Leader Thomas D. DeLay, former director of DeLays Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (ARMPAC), and DeLay fundraiser, ran and served as the registered agent for Ed Buckhams Republican Majority Issues Committee (RMIC). ... Americans for a Republican Majority also ARMPAC is a Political Action Committee formed by former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. ... In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group organized to elect or defeat government officials in order to promote legislation, often supporting the groups special interests. ...

ARMPAC is now managed by Jim Ellis. Ellis, a close political ally of DeLay, was also a consultant for Buckham's Alexander Strategy Group. Jim Ellis, or James W. Ellis, (fl. ...

Alexander Strategy Group, USFN, and RMIC have all shared the same office. ^[1]

Fines for donations

A RICO lawsuit was brought by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee against a series of defendants, including Tom DeLay, US Family Network, Inc. (William J. Olson), Republican Majority Issues Committee, Inc. (Karl Gallant), Americans for Economic Growth, Inc. (Jim Ellis), and John Does 1-20, filed in United States District Court for the District of Columbia, May 3, 2000. For The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a United States law which provides for extended penalties for criminal acts performed as part of an ongoing criminal organization, see: RICO (law) For Rico the Border Collie, see: Rico (Border Collie). ... Karl M. Gallant, a former staffer for House Majority Leader Thomas D. DeLay, former director of DeLays Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (ARMPAC), and DeLay fundraiser, ran and served as the registered agent for Ed Buckhams Republican Majority Issues Committee (RMIC). ... Jim Ellis may be: Jim Ellis (computing) (died 2001), American computer scientist Jim Ellis (Seattle) (b. ...

The National Republican Congressional Committee "agreed to pay a $280,000 civil fine for transferring big donations known as 'soft money' to an outside group to finance ads in the 2000 election. Soft money refers to money used to advance a particular political campaign in such a manner as to skirt the legal limits on how much money individuals or organizations are allowed to contribute to political campaigns (termed hard money). ...

"The Federal Election Commission says the NRCC transferred $500,000 in soft money to the U.S. Family Network during the primary season in 1999 to fund political ads that the NRCC should have paid for with a mix of soft money — unlimited donations from companies and others — and hard money, limited contributions from individuals. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency created in 1975 by Congress to administer and enforce campaign finance legislation in the United States. ...

"The U.S. Family Network sent $300,000 to another group, Americans for Economic Growth. AEG then spent about $260,000 to run radio ads in fall 1999 accusing Democrats of planning to raid the Social Security fund and use it on other programs. ... Social Security in the United States is a social insurance program funded through dedicated payroll taxes called FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act). ...

"The NRCC knew the U.S. Family Network planned to transfer money from the party committee to another group to pay for anti-Democratic ads, the FEC found.

"The commission announced the outcome of the case Friday [April 9, 2004]. The FEC inquiry was prompted by a complaint filed by the NRCC's rival, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"Under a law that took effect after the 2002 election, the national party committees are banned from spending soft money." ^[2]

Connections to the Abramoff scandal

In addition to allegations of lobbying influence with Tom DeLay's Congressional office for Abramoff's clients, Buckham and his wife created or operated organizations implicated in the scandal. One aspect of the Abramoff scandal is allegations of Abramoff's extensive use of a web of non-profit organizations to disguise the source and use of lobbying funds.

Most of the $3.02 million in revenues of the U.S. Family Network came from clients of Jack Abramoff. More $1 million of that money was then paid by USFN to Buckham and his wife, Wendy, during a five-year period ending in 2001, via their lobbying firm, the Alexander Strategy Group. ^[3] U.S. Family Network, Inc. ... Jack Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is an American political lobbyist, a Republican political activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ...

One aspect of the Abramoff scandal includes allegations that former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed, Michael Scanlon, and Abramoff conspired to defraud Native American tribes operating casinos. It is alleged that Abramoff paid approximately $2 million to Ralph Reed to orchestrate an anti-gambling campaign by Buckham's U.S. Family Network, Focus on the Family, and the Christian Coalition in order to scare the Native American tribes. Having thus created the scare, Abramoff then sold them the 'solution' and obtained multi-million dollar contracts to lobby for the tribes. The tribes allege fraud in that Abramoff and Reed manufactured a threat for the sole purpose of selling the tribes 'protection' by lobbying for them. Buckham's personal and professional ties to the Christian Coalition's Legislative Director Jim Backlin further suggests a coordinated fraud between Abramoff, Ralph Reed formerly of the Christian Coalition and Buckham's U.S. Family Network. Ralph Reed may refer to: Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ... This article is about the organization presently operating in the United States. ... This article is about the organization presently operating in the United States. ...

In January 2006 Buckham closed Alexander Strategy Group, and left the lobbying business. Buckham said that the company was fatally damaged by publicity about the ongoing federal investigation into the affairs of Abramoff.^[4]

References

1. ^ DCCC v. Tom DeLay, et al.. United States District Court for the District of Columbia (May 3, 2000). Retrieved on June 4, 2006.
2. ^ Associated Press
3. ^ Smith, R. Jeffrey (Staff writer). "Former DeLay Aide Enriched By Nonprofit", The Washington Post, March 26, 2006. 
4. ^ Birnbaum, Jeffrey H. and Grimaldi, James V.. "Lobby Giant Is Scandal Casualty", The Washington Post, January 10, 2006. 

June 4 is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

• George Loper, "Elections 2000: National Republican Congressional Committee Funds National Right to Life Committee and U.S. Family Network," Loper.org, December 1999.
• Jim Burns, "Democrats File RICO Suit Against DeLay," USConservatives, May 3, 2000.
• "GOP group pays $280,000 campaign fine," Associated Press (MSNBC), April 9, 2004.
• "NRCC busted for illegal 'soft money' donations," The Carpetbagger Report, April 9, 2004.
• "Political Contributions by DeLay Alumni During the 2003-2004 Election Cycle," Tech Politics (CQ Weekly, Federal Election Commission downloaded March 2005.)

is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is an independent regulatory agency created in 1975 by Congress to administer and enforce campaign finance legislation in the United States. ...

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