Basics in the case of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty Tuesday in Washington, D.C., to three federal felonies:
Charges: Conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion.
Penalties: Up to 30 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, but prosecutors and Abramoff’s attorneys agreed to recommend 91/2 to 11 years in prison and a fine of $15,000 to $150,000. If he cooperates fully in the prosecution of others, the government might recommend an unspecified reduction.
| Jack Abramoff
Age: 46; born Feb. 28, 1959, in New Jersey. Education: Beverly Hills High School, Brandeis University graduate, Georgetown University law degree. Experience: Lobbyist with Greenberg Traurig, January 2001-March 2004; founder of Eshkol Academy, a school for Orthodox Jews in in Maryland, 2001; lobbyist with Preston Gates Ellis &Rouvelas Meeds, 1994-2001; Hollywood film producer as president of Regency Entertainment Group, 1986-94; director, Citizens for America, pro-Reagan lobbying group, 1985; chairman of college Republicans and member of executive committee, Republican National Committee, early to mid-1980s. Family: Wife, Pam; five children. Quote: “I’d love us to get our mitts on that moolah.” Abramoff, in an e-mail to an ally, about an Indian tribe’s contributions to Democrats. – Associated Press |
Restitution: Abramoff agreed to pay an estimated $25 million in restitution to victims and $1.7 million to the Internal Revenue Service for evading taxes during 2001-03.
Indian tribes: Abramoff admitted he conspired to defraud Indian tribes in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. They paid Abramoff and companies he controlled $55 million, from which he secretly took more than $21 million for himself. At one point, he took money from a Texas tribe to lobby for Indian gambling in that state, while also taking money from a Louisiana tribe to oppose such gambling in Texas.
Public corruption: Abramoff and his former partner, Michael Scanlon, who has already pleaded guilty, gave campaign contributions, trips, meals and entertainment to public officials and their relatives in return for favorable treatment of his clients.
Rep. Bob Ney: Abramoff’s admissions on Tuesday focused on an unnamed member of the House of Representatives, identified elsewhere as Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, chairman of the powerful House Administration Committee. Ney allegedly received a lavish trip to Scotland to play golf on world-famous courses; trips to the Northern Mariana islands and the 2001 Super Bowl; tickets to concerts and sports events; fundraisers in box suites at sports and concert venues and at Abramoff’s upscale restaurant; and $14,000 in contributions to Ney or on his behalf. Abramoff said Ney backed legislation, placed statements in the Congressional Record, tried to influence executive branch officials for Abramoff’s clients and tried to deliver a House wireless phone contract to one. Ney has denied any wrongdoing.
Others in Congress: Investigators are believed to be focusing on as many as 20 members of Congress and their aides, but the political fallout in a congressional election year could reach beyond any who are specifically charged. On Tuesday, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., joined the list of politicians announcing plans to donate campaign contributions he received from Abramoff to charity.
Other allegations: Abramoff admitted misusing tax-exempt charities to collect illegal payments; arranging for Ney’s former chief of staff to lobby the congressman in 2002 before the staffer’s one-year ban on lobbying had expired; and paying $50,000 in 2000-01 to the wife of a congressional aide identified elsewhere as a top aide to then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.
Florida case: Abramoff was also expected to plead guilty today to two additional federal charges in Florida stemming from the 2000 purchase of a fleet of gambling boats, his attorney said.
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