Former top Ashcroft aide takes the fifth

[RamboLiberal]

Source: AP

A top aide to former Attorney General John Ashcroft claimed his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination Thursday in a trial related to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.

David Ayers, who was Ashcroft's chief of staff at the Justice Department during the Bush administration, refused to answer questions under oath about tickets he received from Abramoff's firm and any favors he may have granted for the firm's clients.

Ayers was called as a defense witness in the corruption trial of Abramoff deputy Kevin Ring. Ring faces charges that he illegally influenced federal officials by providing them with expensive meals, drinks and tickets to concerts and sporting events.

Prosecutors say Ayers helped Ring get Justice Department funding for one of his clients, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, to build a $16.3 million jail on their reservation. Prosecutors say Ring, with Abramoff signing off, then gave Ayers highly sought-after tickets to the 2002 NCAA March Madness college basketball tournament in Washington.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i--9hp6lO11sUWt_7rDNZoRCjqEgD9AP9R600

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Happy to rec this. Thanks for posting it.

[Demeter]

2. That's Just Petty Corruption--Let's Get Some War Crime Action!

[Festivito]

5. Let's put people to work .. investigating. /nt

[Soylent Brice]

3. of course he did.

K&R

[santamargarita]

4. Asscrack is a start

:puke:

[No Elephants]

6. When I say Republican, you say Ayers!

[Mari333]

7. and afterwards he had a fifth

cowards