MyDD :: "The Biggest Scandal in Congress in Over a Century"

"The Biggest Scandal in Congress in Over a Century"

by Jonathan Singer, Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 01:55:57 PM EST

It's not the SEC investigation into the activities of the Senate Majority Leader. It's not the plan to divert corporate contributions to Texas in an effort to serverly gerrymander the state's congressional districts, although the central player in that investigation is threatened by this probe as well.

In today's issue of The New York Times, Philip Shenon takes a look at yet another scandal that greatly threatens the Republican hegemony in Washington: the ongoing investigation into the questionable practices of GOP superlobbyist Jack Abramoff and his recently plea bargained former associate, Michael Scanlon -- who previously served as a top aide to then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

The charges against Mr. Scanlon identified no lawmakers by name, but a summary of the case released by the Justice Department accused him of being part of a broad conspiracy to provide "things of value, including money, meals, trips and entertainment to federal public officials in return for agreements to perform official acts" - an attempt at bribery, in other words, or something close to it.

[...]

Scholars who specialize in the history and operations of Congress say that given the brazenness of Mr. Abramoff's lobbying efforts, as measured by the huge fees he charged clients and the extravagant gifts he showered on friends on Capitol Hill, almost all of them Republicans, the investigation could end up costing several lawmakers their careers, if not their freedom.

The investigation threatens to ensnarl many outside Congress as well, including Interior Department officials and others in the Bush administration who were courted by Mr. Abramoff on behalf of the Indian tribe casinos that were his most lucrative clients.

The inquiry has already reached into the White House; a White House budget official, David H. Safavian, resigned only days before his arrest in September on charges of lying to investigators about his business ties to Mr. Abramoff, a former lobbying partner.

"I think this has the potential to be the biggest scandal in Congress in over a century," said Thomas E. Mann, a Congressional specialist at the Brookings Institution. "I've been around Washington for 35 years, watching Congress, and I've never seen anything approaching Abramoff for cynicism and chutzpah in proposing quid pro quos to members of Congress." [emphasis added]

The Abramoff investigation seems to have roped in at least one leading Republican already. Among the documents filed against Scanlon last week was a reference to "Representative #1," who has subsequently been outed -- by his own office -- as House Administration Committee chairman Bob Ney, Republican from Ohio. But as Brookings' Mann rightly notes, the scandal probably doesn't end there. And in the past, voters have not been keen on reelecting incumbents in the wake of systematic scandals racking Congress. For instance, the importance of the House Banking Scandal of 1992 cannot be underestimated when looking at the Democrats' loss of House seats in both the 1992 and (especially) the 1994 elections.

While the Abramoff probe does not threaten as many House members as the 1992 scandal, which broke after news emerged of more than 350 House members of both parties overdrawing on their personal House bank accounts, it is at least as threatening to the majority as its predecessor, given the fact that "almost all of [those involved are] Republicans." So it seems all the GOP leadership can now hope for is for the results of the investigation to be differed until after the 2006 midterms.

Tags: Republicans (all tags)

Permalink :: 9 Comments :: Post a Comment

E-mails are forever (none / 0)

And they come already transcribed. And authenticated by the intenet provider. From what we have seen Abramoff and Scanlon apparently thought this was just like a cell-phone call, that hitting delete was the same as hanging up. Nope. Shoulda kept your landline.

"While the Abramoff probe does not threaten as many House members as the 1992 scandal, which broke after news emerged of more than 350 House members of both parties"

The House Bank scandal came as a result of Congressfolk getting sloppy, the equivalent of me asking the bartender to hold my check until Wednesday. This one goes right to the core and right to the top and given the players there will be nothing bi-partisan about it. It is going to be a hard cold winter for Republicans. (Sniff, weep, take a quick look around to see if anyone sees me grinning)

by Bruce Webb on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 02:23:44 PM EST

"Almost all" are Republicans... (none / 0)

...so which Democrats are going to fall because of their dirty ties to Abramoff?

I'm not upset--they should be kicked out of Congress--but it's unfortunate that there's even ONE Democratic official tied to this kind of slime.

Still, this is a Republican scandal, and the Republicans will be crushed because of this.

Swing State Project: Campaign & Election News - Covering Key Races Around the Country

by HellofaSandwich on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 02:30:07 PM EST

Re: "Almost all" are Republicans... (none / 0)

There has been a lot of talk about Reform Democrats. If the Democrats have to take a few hits to clean up Congress, so be it.

There should be No Sacred Cash Cows that Democrats have to rely on to win elections. Unreformed Democrats should have been on notice months, if not years ago.

by Gary Boatwright on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 02:42:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Almost all" are Republicans... (none / 0)

Honestly, I heard from a co-worker Harry Reid was one of the few Democrats who took Abramoff money. Which isn't that surprising, given a senator from Nevada is going to be involved in gambling interests, but it could really bite the Dems in the ass. I don't have any details handy at the moment though.

by telephasic on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 03:39:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: "Almost all" are Republicans... (none / 0)

Harry Reid would not be missed.

by Gary Boatwright on Mon Nov 21, 2005 at 01:19:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

And Bob Ney denies he did anything wrong..... (none / 0)

That is according to a WaPo article by James Grimaldi and Susan Schmidt. The article goes on to state that, per the documents entered with the court, "Scanlon and Abramhoff 'provided things of value to Representative 1 and his staff,' including a lavish Scotland golf trip and tickets to sporting events." The documents also allege that these two donated to the representative's PAC, as well as other PACs on his behalf.
Well, at least his lawyer doesn't think he did anything wrong.

Memo to neocons: I respect your right to have an opinion, but I just don't want to hear it anymore.

by blogus on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 02:45:18 PM EST

I'm confused (none / 0)

can someone give me the post card version of what this scandal is all about?

by Paul Goodman on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 03:12:56 PM EST

Republicans (none / 0)

the gift that keeps on givin' Honestly we need bumpstickers:

Republican Congress members: Corruptions r Us
Republican leadership: We never met a bribe we didn't like
Republican Congress: the crooked, the bad and the ugly

by bruh21 on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 03:50:34 PM EST

Republican Corruption (none / 0)

Damn, I should have become a prosecutor afterall.

John McCain will privatize social security.

by gunnar on Sun Nov 20, 2005 at 09:57:02 PM EST

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