Friday, September 23, 2005
Republican Lobbyists, Congressmen, White House Nervous as Abramoff Probe Widens
Last week White House staffer David Safavian was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements (that is, lying) about dealings with Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Safavian was head of procurement for the White House Office of Management and Budget.
The probe is growing. The noose is tightening. Lots of Republicans around town are nervous.
Bloomberg News reports the widening probe into Abramoff's shady activities is getting too close to home and threatens, as Bloomberg puts it, "leading figures in the Republican heirarchy that dominates Washington."
The Bloomberg story details some of Abramoff's dealings with Republicans, including funding international trips for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- who called Abramoff "one of my closest and dearest friends" -- and working with Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio to insert language into the Congressional Record supporting Abramoff's acquisition of a casino ship company. Abramoff has been indicted on wire fraud charges in connection with that purchase.
Republican sleaziness is not news -- it's a given. It will be interesting to see how far the Justice Department / FBI probe will get before the White House puts a stop to it.
The probe is growing. The noose is tightening. Lots of Republicans around town are nervous.
Bloomberg News reports the widening probe into Abramoff's shady activities is getting too close to home and threatens, as Bloomberg puts it, "leading figures in the Republican heirarchy that dominates Washington."
The Bloomberg story details some of Abramoff's dealings with Republicans, including funding international trips for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay -- who called Abramoff "one of my closest and dearest friends" -- and working with Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio to insert language into the Congressional Record supporting Abramoff's acquisition of a casino ship company. Abramoff has been indicted on wire fraud charges in connection with that purchase.
Republican sleaziness is not news -- it's a given. It will be interesting to see how far the Justice Department / FBI probe will get before the White House puts a stop to it.
