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The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on behalf of Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon grossly overbilled their clients, secretly splitting the multimillion-dollar profits. In one case, they secretly orchestrated lobbying against their own clients in order to force them to pay for lobbying services. Image File history File links Stop_hand. ... Jack A. Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is a United States political lobbyist, Republican activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... Jack A. Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is a United States political lobbyist, Republican activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... Adam Kidan is a former business associate of indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, having partnered with Abramoff in the purchase of SunCruz Casinos. ... 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. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... 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. ... Harry Mason Reid (born December 2, 1939) is the senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party, for which he serves as Senate Minority Leader. ... Robert William Ney (born July 5, 1954) is an American politician of the Republican Party who serves as a U.S. representative from the 18th District of southeastern Ohio (map). ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a congressman from Sugar Land, Texas, a former House Majority Leader, and a prominent member of the Republican Party, who has announced his resignation from elective office as of June 2006 after a series of criminal indictments. ... Edwin A. Buckham is an evangelical minister, former congressional staffer and lobbyist. ... Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ... Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is the president of the noted anti-tax lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform, and a well-connected conservative activist with close ties to business and the media. ... ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 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 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. ... 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. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... To suggest a relevant news story for the Main Page, refer to the criteria then add your suggestion at the candidates page. ... This article provides a list of major political scandals of the United States. ... Lobbying is the professional practice of public affairs advocacy, with the goal of influencing a governing body by promoting a point of view. ... Jack A. Abramoff (born February 28, 1958) is a United States political lobbyist, Republican activist and businessman who is a central figure in a series of high-profile political scandals. ... Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ... Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is the president of the noted anti-tax lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform, and a well-connected conservative activist with close ties to business and the media. ... Michael Scanlon is a former communications director for Rep. ... In 1987 the U.S. Supreme Court recognized that as sovereign political entities, Native American tribes could operate gaming facilities free of state regulation. ...

In the course of the scheme, the lobbyists are accused of illegally giving gifts and making campaign donations to legislators in return for votes or support of legislation. Representative Bob Ney (R-OH) and an aide to Tom DeLay (R-TX) have been directly implicated; other politicians, mostly Republican lawmakers, with connections to Indian affairs have various ties. Repercussions of the investigation caused DeLay to resign his former position as House leader. Robert William Ney (born July 5, 1954) is an American politician of the Republican Party who serves as a U.S. representative from the 18th District of southeastern Ohio (map). ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a congressman from Sugar Land, Texas, a former House Majority Leader, and a prominent member of the Republican Party, who has announced his resignation from elective office as of June 2006 after a series of criminal indictments. ... The House of Representatives is the larger of two houses that make up the U.S. Congress, the other being the United States Senate. ...

Scanlon and Abramoff have both pled guilty to a variety of charges related to the scheme.

On Friday, November 25, 2005, the Wall Street Journal reported the expansion of the investigation to four members of Congress: in addition to Ney and DeLay, the report includes Rep. John Doolittle (R., Calif.) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R., Mont.) ^[1] On December 2, 2005, the New York Times reported that federal prosecutors were considering a plea bargain arrangement that would give Abramoff some consideration if he provided evidence that would implicate members of Congress and their senior staffers in receiving job offers in return for legislative favors. Rep. ... Conrad Ray Burns (born January 25, 1935) is the junior United States Senator from Montana. ...

On January 3, 2006, Abramoff pleaded guilty to three felony counts — conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion — involving charges stemming principally from his lobbying activities in Washington on behalf of Native American tribes. In addition, Abramoff and other defendants must make restitution of at least $25 million that was defrauded from clients, most notably the Native American tribes. Further, Abramoff owes the Internal Revenue Service $1.7 million as a result of his guilty plea to the tax evasion charge.^[2]. The court filing is available as a PDF.^[3] January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The agreement alleges that Abramoff bribed public officials. One of the cases of bribery described in detail involves a person identified as "Representative #1," who was reported by the Washington Post to be Representative Bob Ney (R-OH). Ney's spokesman confirmed that Ney was the Representative identified, but denied any improper influence.^[4] The agreement also details Abramoff's practice of hiring former congressional staffers. Abramoff used these persons' influence to lobby their former Congressional employers, in violation of a one-year federal ban on such lobbying.^{[5] [6]} ... Robert William Ney (born July 5, 1954) is an American politician of the Republican Party who serves as a U.S. representative from the 18th District of southeastern Ohio (map). ...

After Abramoff's guilty plea, investigations were shifted early January 2006 to focus on the lobbying firm Alexander Strategy Group ^[7], founded by a "close friend of DeLay's and his former chief of staff."^[8] The lobbying firm announced its closure come the end of the same month due to "fatal publicity"; it had represented such large firms as Microsoft and PhRMA. On May 1st, 2006, the Secret Service agreed to release logs of all meetings with Jack Abramoff on or before May 10th. Alexander Strategy Group was a lobbying firm involved in the K Street Project. ... Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKSE: 4338) is an international computer technology corporation with 2005 global annual sales of US$42. ... The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is a trade body of the pharmaceutical industry of the United States. ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Because of both the secrecy of secret services and the controversial nature of the issues involved, there is some difficulty in separating the definitions of secret service, secret police, intelligence agency etc. ... May 10 is the 130th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (131st in leap years). ...

Background

Introduction to tribal lobbying

In the second half of the 1990s, Abramoff was employed by Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds LLP, the lobbying arm of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP law firm based in Seattle, WA. In 1995, Abramoff began representing Native American tribes with gambling interests. He became involved with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. One of Abramoff's first acts as a tribal gaming lobbyist was to defeat a Congressional bill to tax Native American casinos, sponsored by Reps. Bill Archer (R-TX) and Ernest Istook (R-OK) in 1995. According to Washington Business Forward, a lobbying trade magazine, "[Tom DeLay] was a major factor in those victories, and the fight helped cement the alliance between the two men.^[9] Preston Gates and Ellis LLP is a law firm, with offices in various cities across the US, as well as in Hong Kong. ... The Choctaws are a Native American people originally from the southeast United States (Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana). ... There are a number of people named Bill Archer: Bill Archer, a politician in the United States Bill Archer, a politician in Manitoba, Canada This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Rep. ... Thomas Dale DeLay (born April 8, 1947) is a congressman from Sugar Land, Texas, a former House Majority Leader, and a prominent member of the Republican Party, who has announced his resignation from elective office as of June 2006 after a series of criminal indictments. ...

"Team Abramoff"

Main article: Team Abramoff

On January 8, 2001, Abramoff left Preston Gates to join the Government Relations division of the law firm of Greenberg Traurig, which once described him as "directly involved in the Republican party and conservative movement leadership structures" and "one of the leading fund raisers for the party and its congressional candidates." With the move to Greenberg Traurig Abramoff took as much as $6 million of client "work" from his old firm, including the Marianas Islands account. When asked in an interview why he moved to Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff replied "they have a dominant presence…This move is an excellent opportunity for me and my clients with the new Administration." ^[10] ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Greenberg Traurig LLP is an international law firm with approximately 1,400 attorneys and governmental professionals in 31 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia, including strategic alliances. ...

At Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff assembled a "dream team" made up of lobbyists with past jobs working for Congressional leaders. This team included Tony Rudy, whom Abramoff had worked extensively with during the Marianas and eLottery lobbying, while Rudy was serving as Chief of Staff to Tom DeLay. Abramoff had hired Rudy while he was still at Preston Gates & Ellis, and brought him and six other staff lobbyists over to Greenberg Traurig. The hiring of Rudy was one of the first instances in a pattern by which Abramoff would directly hire aides of representatives he was actively lobbying. The Dream Team was the unofficial nickname of the United States mens basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. ... 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. ... Preston Gates and Ellis LLP is a law firm, with offices in various cities across the US, as well as in Hong Kong. ...

2001 White House Transition Team Member

Jack Abramoff was a member of the Bush Administration's 2001 Transition Advisory Team assigned to the Department of the Interior. ^[11] The Department of the Interior has Federal regulatory authority over tribal affairs such as tribal recognition and gaming.

Abramoff befriended the incoming Deputy Secretary of the Interior, J. Steven Griles. In the first 10 months of 2001, the Abramoff lobbying team logged almost 200 contacts with the new Administration. ^[12] He may have used these senior level contacts to assist in his lobbying for Native American tribes concerning tribal gaming. James Steven Griles (born December 13, 1947) was the Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior from July 2001 to January 2005. ...

Abramoff's main contact in Deputy Secretary of the Interior Steven Griles' office was through Italia Federici, a former political aide to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton.^[13] Abramoff's main contact in the West Wing of the White House was his former aide Susan Ralston who became Executive Assistant to then Senior Advisor to the President Karl Rove. Italia Federici is the President of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA). ... Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton Gale Ann Norton (born March 11, 1954) served as the 48th United States Secretary of the Interior, serving under President George W. Bush. ... 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. ... Karl Rove Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is U.S. President George W. Bushs Deputy Chief of Staff, heading the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the Office of Strategic Initiatives at the White House. ...

Guilty plea—confirmed corrupt lobbying practices

Jack Abramoff testified before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on September 29, 2004, where he repeatedly refused to answer Senators' questions by "taking the fifth".

Abramoff and his partner Scanlon are alleged to have engaged in a series of corrupt practices in connection to their lobbying work for various Indian Casino gambling tribes. The fees paid to Abramoff and Scanlon for this work are believed to exceed $85 million. Image File history File links Abramoff_SIAC_20040929_2. ... Image File history File links Abramoff_SIAC_20040929_2. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In American criminal law, taking the fifth is the act of refusing to testify under oath in a court of law or any other tribunal (such as a Congressional committee) on the grounds that the answers that would be given could be used as evidence against the witness to convict...

In particular, Abramoff and Scanlon are alleged to have conspired with Washington power broker Grover Norquist and Christian activist Ralph Reed to co-ordinate lobbying against his own clients and prospective clients with the objective of forcing them to engage Abramoff and Scanlon to lobby against their own covert operations. Reed was paid to campaign against gambling interests that competed with Abramoff clients. Norquist served as a go-between by funneling money to Reed. Grover Glenn Norquist (born October 19, 1956) is the president of the noted anti-tax lobbying group Americans for Tax Reform, and a well-connected conservative activist with close ties to business and the media. ... Ralph Reed may refer to: Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ...

Allegation of double dealing

Ralph Reed repeatedly denied knowing the source of the money used to fund his campaign against the casinos until prosecutors released e-mails exchanged between him and Abramoff. According to e-mails, Reed and Norquist contacted Abramoff separately in 1999 to say they wanted to do business. Norquist complained about a "$75K hole in my budget from last year." Reed said he was counting on Abramoff "to help me with some contacts." Ralph Reed may refer to: Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ...

On February 7, 2000, Abramoff warned Reed that an initial payment for anti-lottery radio spots and mailings would be less than Reed thought. "I need to give Grover [Norquist] something for helping, so the first transfer will be a bit lighter," Abramoff wrote. The transfer was apparently lighter than even Abramoff expected. In a note to himself on February 22, Abramoff wrote, "Grover kept another $25K!" Norquist claims he had permission.

On May 23, 2000, Abramoff e-mailed Reed a retainer letter for Reed's work to build grass roots support to help defeat a ban on Internet gambling that was then being considered by Congress. The e-mail stated that the agreement was in connection with the "elot project." eLot Inc. is the parent company of eLottery Inc. an Internet gambling company that feared that the passage of the anti-Internet gambling legislation would hurt its business. ^[14]

On June 22, 2000, Susan Ralston e-mailed Abramoff, "I have 3 checks from elot: (1) 2 checks for $80K payable to ATR and (2) 1 check to TVC for $25K," [...] "Let me know exactly what to do next. Send to Grover? Send to Rev. Lou?" ^[15] 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. ...

Thus eLottery money went through Norquist's foundation, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), the Faith and Family Alliance, and Reed's company, Century Strategies, while the last check was sent to Sheldon's Traditional Values Coalition (TVC). Americans for Tax Reform is an interest group seeking to reduce the overall level of taxation in the United States, at the federal, state and local level. ... Rev. ... The Traditional Values Coalition is a Christian Right organization that claims to represent 43,000 conservative Christian churches throughout the United States of America. ...

In 2000, Abramoff forced the Choctaws to give the Alabama Christian Coalition $1.15 million in installments. Norquist agreed to pass the money on to the Coalition and another Alabama antigambling group, both of which Reed was mobilizing for the fight against a proposed Alabama state lottery. The Choctaws are a Native American people originally from the southeast United States (Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana)of Muskoghean linguistic stock. ... Official language(s) English Capital Montgomery Largest city Birmingham Area  Ranked 30th  - Total 52,423 sq. ... This article is about the organization presently operating in the United States. ... A lottery is a popular form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize. ...

In 2002, after Abramoff worked with Reed to close the casino of the Tigua tribe, he persuaded the tribe to hire him to lobby Congress to reopen the casino. The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ... Tiwa, in Spanish Tigua, is a group of closely related languages spoken by some Pueblo people in New Mexico. ...

Of the $7.7 million Abramoff and Scanlon charged the Choctaw for projects in 2001, they spent $1.2 million on their behalf and split the rest in a scheme they called "gimme five."

Guilty plea—confirmed spending irregularities

In 2004, Abramoff resigned from Greenberg Traurig amid a scandal related to spending irregularities in his work as a lobbyist for Native American tribes involved in gambling, namely The Mississippi Choctaw, the Louisiana Coushatta, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Sandia Pueblo, the Saginaw Chippewa and the Tigua of Ysleta del Sur Pueblo. Indigenous peoples in the United States are distinct groups of peoples who are indigenous to what are now states or territories of the United States of America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Area  Ranked 32nd  - Total 48,434 sq. ... The Choctaws are a Native American people originally from the southeast United States (Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana)of Muskoghean linguistic stock. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq. ... The Coushatta (also Koasati) are a Native American people living primarily in the U.S. state of Louisiana. ... The Cahuilla are a tribe of Native Americans that have inhabited California for more than 2000 years, originally covering an area of about 2,400 square miles (6,200 km²). Evidence shows that when the Cahuilla first moved into the area a large body of water now called Lake Cahuilla... Pueblo of Sandia Village is a census-designated place located in Sandoval County, New Mexico. ... Saginaw is the name of several places in the United States of America: Saginaw, Michigan Saginaw, Texas This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... For other uses of Chippewa, see Chippewa (disambiguation). ... Tiwa, in Spanish Tigua, is a group of closely related languages spoken by some Pueblo people in New Mexico. ...

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians paid $15 million to Abramoff and Scanlon's organizations. The bills were heavily padded. For example, in April 2000 he padded 2 hours with over 60 hours to achieve a "$150k minimum." ^[16] The funds were diverted to a number of projects, including the Eshkol Academy, an all-boys Orthodox Jewish school set up by Abramoff in Maryland. Official language(s) English Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Area  Ranked 32nd  - Total 48,434 sq. ... Eshkol Academy was an Orthodox Jewish school in Maryland that existed from 2002 to 2004 The school was founded by Jack Abramoff. ... Orthodox Judaism is one of the three major branches of Judaism. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,417 sq. ...

Israel

Abramoff—who has been described by his spokesman Andrew Blum as, "an especially strong supporter of Israel" and by another associate as "a super-Zionist-freak-azoid"—diverted "money meant for inner-city kids" to Jewish settlers occupying the Palestinian West Bank in order to help them "fight the Palestinian intifada."^[17] Tribal donors were outraged by Abramoff's diversion of funds to Israeli settlers. " 'This is almost like outer-limits bizarre,' says Henry Buffalo, a lawyer for the Saginaw Chippewa Indians who contributed $25,000 to the Capital Athletic Foundation at Abramoff's urging. 'The tribe would never have given money for this.' "^[17] The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... Military occupation occurs where territory belonging to one country falls under the control and authority of the armed forces of a belligerent or enemy country following an invasion or annexation. ... Intifada (also Intefadah or Intifadah; from shaking off) is an Arabic term for uprising. It came into common usage in English as the popularised name for two recent Palestinian campaigns directed at ending the Israeli military occupation. ...

Investigators believe that more than $140,000 of Capital Athletic Foundation funds were actually used for "purchases of camouflage suits, sniper scopes, night-vision binoculars, a thermal imager and other material described in foundation records as 'security' equipment."^[17] US Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings revealed that the Capital Athletic Foundation "paid a monthly stipend and Jeep payments to a high-school friend of Abramoff" to conduct sniper workshops for Israeli Defense Force members in Israel's [sic] West Bank."^[18][19]

However, as Professor Juan Cole asserts, in critiquing The Hill report on this subject, "the Israeli army does not need shooting lessons from [Ben-Zvi]. The sniper lessons were for the colonists, practice for shooting Palestinians."^[20] The "high-school friend" is, apparently, "Abramoff's connection" to the Jewish West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit, "Schmuel Ben-Zvi, an American emigre who, the lobbyist told associates, was an old friend he knew from Los Angeles;" Ben-Zvi has denied knowing Abramoff^[17]. Juan R. I. Cole is a Professor of Modern Middle East and South Asian History in the History Department at the University of Michigan. ... The Hill is a non-partisan, non-ideological weekly newspaper that describes the inner workings of U.S. Congress. ...

American International Center

Part of the sums paid by the tribes for lobbying were paid to the American International Center, an organization presenting itself as a think tank headed by David Grosh, a lifeguard on the Delaware shore who operated it from his beach house. Grosh had no qualifications or experience relevant to policy research and currently works in construction. At a Senate hearing, Grosh admitted that he had abetted the deception and said that he was "embarrassed and disgusted to be a part of this whole thing." Abramoff ... This article is about the institution. ... Official language(s) None Capital Dover Largest city Wilmington Area  Ranked 49th  - Total 2,491 sq. ... Seal of the Senate The United States Senate is one of the two chambers of the Congress of the United States, the other being the House of Representatives. ...

GrassRoots Interactive

Main article: GrassRoots Interactive

A document from Abramoff's files shows that in the summer of 2003 he pushed to sign President Omar Bongo of the poor west central African nation of Gabon as a client, even offering to travel to Gabon immediately after an August golfing vacation to Scotland "with the congressmen and senators I take there each year." Documents also show that Abramoff and his colleagues drew up a draft contract that called for $9 million in fees from Gabon to be paid to GrassRoots Interactive, a small Maryland lobbying company that his former colleagues say he controlled. (The firm, founded in May 2003 by Edward B. Miller, a Republican political figure in Maryland, was sold to Abramoff associate Samuel Hook in September 2003. GrassRoots Interactive (GRI), now defunct, was a small Silver Springs, Maryland, lobbying firm controlled by Jack Abramoff. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ...

Documents, including copies of canceled checks, show that millions of dollars flowed into GrassRoots Interactive in 2003, the year it was created, and then flowed out again to unusual places. At least $2.3 million went to a California consulting firm that used the same address as the law office of Abramoff's brother, Robert. A separate check for $400,000, from GrassRoots, was made out to Kay Gold, another Abramoff family company.[^[21]]

Derogatory references to Native American clients

In emails now made public by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, which is investigating his activities, Abramoff repeatedly referred to Native Americans as "monkeys", "troglodites" and "morons."^[22] The United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is responsible for dealing with matters related to the American Indian, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native peoples. ... Cynomolgus Monkey at Batu Caves, Malaysia Monkeys, Mori Sosen (1749-1821) A monkey is any member of two of the three groupings of simian primates. ... Look up troglodyte in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Abramoff once asked his co-conspirator Scanlon to meet a client, saying in an email, "I have to meet with the monkeys from the Choctaw tribal council. You need to close the deal... with the client..." The Choctaws are a Native American people originally from the southeast United States (Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana)of Muskoghean linguistic stock. ...

About one tribal client (date unknown) Abramoff wrote to Scanlon, "These mofos are the stupidest idiots in the land for sure." In another email message he wrote, "we need to get some money from those monkeys!!" The word motherfucker (also contracted forms mother, mofo, mafucka and mamma-jamma) is a common insult, term of endearment, and expletive in the English language and is widely considered obscene. ...

"Monkey" and "Troglodyte" are considered racist when applied to a specific racial or ethnic group.

Ralph Reed's and James Dobson's denials

From a television interview conducted on October 19, 2005 in Atlanta October 19 is the 292nd day of the year (293rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ralph E. Reed, Jr. said he asked Abramoff's firm for assurances his pay would not be in gambling dollars. "And I was provided with those assurances by the law firm," Reed said. "If we were paid with funds that derived from gambling activity, then it was contrary to my understanding and the assurances that I received."^[23] Ralph E. Reed, Jr. ...

From the Chicago Tribune on January 5, 2006, January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Abramoff recruited prominent Christian conservatives James Dobson and Ralph Reed to campaign against the Jena Band's casino on the grounds it would expand gambling, even though Abramoff's clients were casinos. Dobson and Reed have said they were duped ^[24] though their stories don't add up.^[25] This article concerns the self-labelled Fundamentalist Movement in Protestant Christianity. ... James Dobson, Ph. ...

Abramoff's monetary influence

Main article: Monetary influence of Jack Abramoff

Abramoff has a reputation for largesse considered exceptional even by Washington standards. In addition to offering many Republican members of Congress expensive free meals at his restaurant, Signatures, Abramoff maintained four skyboxes at major sports arenas for political entertaining at a cost of over $1 million a year. Abramoff hosted many fundraisers at these skyboxes including events for politicians publicly opposed to gambling, such as U.S. Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA). ^[26] The monetary influence of Jack Abramoff run deep in Washington, as Jack Abramoff spent millions of dollars to influence and entertain Republican politicians. ... Signatures restaurant, in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, D.C., once owned by Jack Abramoff, is under new ownership and will be renamed. ... Rep. ...

Of the approximately $85 million in tribal money entrusted to Abramoff, his employers, or his related organizations, over $4.4 million were directed to Congressional politicians, primarily Republicans in leadership positions or on relevant committees and Democrats with standing connections to Native American interests (in a 2-1 GOP ratio). While some of these lawmakers received contributions from these organizations before the organizations hired Abramoff, under Abramoff a higher percentage of funds were contributed to Republicans, suggesting Abramoff actually directed contributions away from Democrats and toward Republicans. Jack Abramoff himself never contributed to any Democrat nor any Democratic organization.

Other connected parties

The White House

US GSA Chief Procurement Officer David Hossein Safavian (R)

On September 19, 2005, David Safavian, who was serving as the head of the federal procurement policy at the Office of Management and Budget, was the first person arrested in the Abramoff scandal. Safavian was charged with lying to investigators and obstructing the federal inquiry of Abramoff.^[27] While at the General Services Administration, Safavian repeatedly discussed Abramoff's interest in two federal properties that GSA controlled. Safavian knew Abramoff from the three years, 1995-1997, when he was part of Abramoff's lobbying team at Preston Gates & Ellis.^[28] September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ... The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is a body within the Executive Office of the President of the United States which is tasked with coordinating United States Federal agencies. ... This article needs to be updated. ...

Deputy United States Secretary of the Interior J. Steven Griles (R)

Abramoff claimed in emails sent in 2002 that Deputy United States Secretary of the Interior Griles had pledged to block an Indian casino that would compete with one of his clients. Abramoff later told two people that he was trying to hire Griles.^[29] James Steven Griles (born December 13, 1947) is the Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior. ... The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior, concerned with such matters as national parks and The Secretary is a member of the Presidents Cabinet. ...

Maryland - Edward B. Miller

In 2005, a federal grand jury issued a subpoena in 2005 to Edward B Miller, the deputy chief of staff of the Republican governor of Maryland, Robert L. Ehrlich, because of Miller's connection to Grassroots Interactive.^[30] The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... GrassRoots Interactive (GRI), now defunct, was a small Silver Springs, Maryland, lobbying firm controlled by Jack Abramoff. ...

Quotations

Al Gore

"The Abramoff scandal is but the tip of a giant iceberg that threatens the integrity of the entire legislative branch of government." Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. ...

Stephen Hess, professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University.

"This could be the biggest investigation of 2006."

See also

• List of Jack Abramoff-related organizations
• Monetary influence of Jack Abramoff

A list of organizations related to 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. ...

References

1. ^ http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Four_congressmembers_role_in_Abramoff_lobbying_1125.html
2. ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5081540 NPR
3. ^ http://www.npr.org/documents/2006/jan/abramoff_charges.pdf
4. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/03/AR2006010301609.html
5. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/abramoff_info_010306.pdf
6. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4579474.stm
7. ^ http://alexanderstrategy.com/company.asp
8. ^ http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/08/news/lobbyist.php
9. ^ http://www.bizforward.com/wdc/issues/2002-11/government/abramoff/
10. ^ http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:lLhVNtKvTfwJ:www.hillzoo.com/news032801.htm+%22Amy+Berger%22,+Preston+Gates&hl=en
11. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-06-abramoff-bush_x.htm
12. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-05-06-abramoff-bush_x.htmof
13. ^ http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Italia_Federici
14. ^ http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0304metreed.html
15. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/15/AR2005101501539_3.html
16. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/28/AR2005122801588_4.html
17. ^ ^a b c d Fund-Raising: Take It to the (West) Bank Newsweek, May 2, 2005.
18. ^ Indian Affairs panel hears 'tale of betrayal' The Hill, June 23, 2005.
19. ^ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a9s0nfJm4uZA
20. ^ Abramoff and al-Arian: Lobbyist's "Charity" a Front for Terrorism Informed Comment, January 4, 2006.
21. ^ http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1110-04.htm
22. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/06/AR2006010601796.html
23. ^ http://www.11alive.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=71383
24. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0601050072jan05,1,7234190.story
25. ^ http://mediamatters.org/items/200603020007
26. ^ http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050628/NEWS/506280307/1039
27. ^ http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Bush_Management_and_Budget_Procurement_chief_arre_0919.html
28. ^ Continetti, Michael. "Scandal Season: The long strange trip of David Safavian—from lobbyist to defendant", The Weekly Standard, October 10, 2005.
29. ^ Schmidt, Susan. "Abramoff Cited Aid Of Interior Official", The Washington Post, August 28, 2005.
30. ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/23/AR2005092302050.html

May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 4 is the 4th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Research/Media

• The Abramoff Galaxy: Washington Post Graphic
• Bush men race to return Abramoff cash
• "How Abramoff Spread the Wealth", The Washington Post, December 12, 2005.
• "The Fast Rise and Steep Fall of Jack Abramoff", The Washington Post, December 29, 2005.
• "Unraveling Abramoff", The Washington Post, January 3, 2006.
• Jack Abramoff and Grover Norquist Billing Clients for Face Time with G.W. Bush
• Abramoff and Congressional Reform, JURIST
• Fund-Raising: Take It to the (West) Bank Newsweek, May 2, 2005.
• Indian Affairs panel hears 'tale of betrayal' The Hill, June 23, 2005.
• Emails from Abramoff regarding his relationship with George W. Bush], posted February 8, 2006.
• Abramoff Team and Harry Reid's Office Had Frequent Contact The Washington Post February 10, 2006
• Vanity fair article: "Washington's Invisible Man" A tell-all interview w/Jack Abramoff (pdf)

Opinion/Blogs December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 19 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 29 is the 363rd day of the year (364th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 2 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A jurist is a professional who studies, develops, applies or otherwise deals with the law. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 23 is the 174th day of the year (175th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 191 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

• [1] friendster links
• who in the Abramoff scandal is guilty of what?
• Will trail of corruption & influence peddling lead to Ralph Reed, evangelicals?
• Abramoff and al-Arian: Lobbyist's "Charity" a Front for Terrorism Informed Comment, January 4, 2006.
• Jack Abramoff and Tom DeLay Fairly comprehensive list of links
• Republicans Try to Distract from Abramoff Pay-To-Play Schemes, Says Democratic National Committee, January 31, 2006 (includes "DNC Research" analysis)