NYTs: Senators Hear of Wink-Wink Lobbyist Move (Abramoff/Scanlon/Reed)

[UpInArms]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/politics/23indian.html?oref=login&pagewanted=all

excerpt:

The Rehoboth center, purportedly a think tank, turned out to be one of several nonprofit groups used by Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Scanlon, his business partner, to funnel money from the tribes to themselves and to pet projects, according to documents and testimony at the hearing on Wednesday, the third on the matter.

In what they frequently referred to as their "gimme five" scheme, Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Scanlon repeatedly talked about inflating their billable hours and shifting money between groups - a move investigators think was intended to avoid taxes and hide the origins or recipients of the money - to pay for travel, personal loans and a friend's political campaigns.

Many of the exchanges were by e-mail, giving Senate investigators concrete evidence to release to the public as they continued to build a case against Mr. Abramoff that has been mounting for nearly a year.

Referring to the conservative leader Ralph Reed, Mr. Abramoff said to Mr. Scanlon: "$100K to Ralph; $25K to contributions ($5K immediately to conservative caucus); rest gimme five."

...more...

[Mountainman]

1. When it comes to money and power some Republicans and some Dems

alike just can be bothered with ethics.

[greenbriar]

2. Pair ripped off Indians, senators todl

Pair ripped off Indians, senators told
By Jim Drinkard, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Two top Washington lobbyists funneled millions of dollars through non-profit groups to disguise a scheme to cheat Indian tribes out of much of the money, according to documents released Wednesday and testimony from tribal officials.



MORE>>>


http://yahoo.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-22-indian-lobbyists_x.htm?csp=1

[bklyncowgirl]

3. Attention: Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard!

Slacker beach bum gets offered big bucks for fronting a money laundering operation for his ethically challenged buddy who's partners with a big time Washington lobbyist and a smarmy Christian Coalition bigwig who are ripping off an indian tribe who wants to keep another indian tribe from horning in on their casino business.

What a cast of characters. Add the Bug Man to that list and the comic possiblities are endless.