Three More Lawmakers Linked to Abramoff

Ok right off the bat, the three are: LaTourette R-Ohio (another from Ohio), Young R-Alaska, and Moore-Capito R-W. VA.

Hey, did you notice that there are no Democrats in that list? Know why? Because there are no Democrats linked to this. I hate having to keep repeating myself but people keep sending me emails trying to convince me that the GOP lies are the truth. Abramoff did NOT give money to any Democrat, nor any Democrat causes, PACs or charities.

What money the Native American Tribes were giving to the Democrats decreased by ~33% when they hired Abramoff. So they can't try that either. Don't let them try to fool you. Step in when they try to propagate that lie. Tell people the truth.

OK, end angry rant. on with the news...

Toni Locy and Pete Yost of the AP writes:

Three members of Congress have been linked to efforts by lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a former General Services Administration official to secure leases of government property for Abramoff's clients, according to court filings by federal prosecutors on Friday.

The filings in U.S. District Court do not allege any wrongdoing by the elected officials but list them in documents portraying David Safavian, a former GSA chief of staff, as an active adviser to Abramoff, giving the lobbyists tips on how to use members of Congress to navigate the agency's bureaucracy.

Abramoff is cooperating with federal investigators in a wide-ranging probe of corruption on Capitol Hill that threatens several powerful members of Congress and their staff members. Last month, he pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud.

Safavian is charged with lying to a GSA ethics officer when he said Abramoff was not seeking business with the agency at the time the lobbyist paid for Safavian and several others to go on a golf outing to Scotland in August 2002.

At the time of the trip, prosecutors said, Abramoff was trying to get GSA approval for leases of the Old Post Office Pavilion in Washington for an Indian tribe to develop and for federal property in Silver Spring, Md., for use by a Jewish school.

Two of the elected officials referred to in Friday's filings have been identified in published reports as Reps. Steven LaTourette, R-Ohio, and Don Young, R-Alaska. According to Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, the two representatives wrote to the GSA in September 2002, urging the agency to give preferential treatment to groups such as Indian tribes when evaluating development proposals for the Old Post Office.

LaTourette maintains he did nothing improper by advocating special opportunities for certain small businesses in areas known as HUBzones, or Historically Underutilized Business zones. His spokeswoman, Deborah Setliff, said that the letter was reviewed by Young's chief of staff and counsel and that it did not advocate any particular business over another.

Friday's filings by prosecutors refer to a third member of Congress, Rep. Shelly Moore Capito, R-W.Va. Her name appears in e-mails that suggest she was trying to help Abramoff secure a GSA lease for land in Silver Spring for a religious school.

They're trying to back-pedal. Capito says:

"The action taken by her former chief of staff was done without her knowledge, approval or consent," said her spokesman, Joel Brubaker. "She was not aware of any contact with GSA of any type on this matter."

Her former chief of staff agrees saying he did not tell her. Isn't it still her responsibility? Hell yes it is. I can't wait for "Spring White House Cleaning"

The entire article can be found here:
Three More Lawmakers Linked to Abramoff

Technorati tags: Abramoff, Scandal, GOP, Lobby, Safavian, GSA, Congress