Abramoff in the (White) House

[UpInArms]

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/nataffdaily/story/9139510?rnd=1137044013690&has-player=unknown

Now, I'm not too up on my presidential transition teams, but doesn't this Washington Post clip suggest that Abramoff actually worked for the Bush White House?

"With Norquist's help, Abramoff secured a spot on the transition team for the Interior Department after George W. Bush was elected president in 2000. He tried to place several officials in Interior, including an unsuccessful attempt to land a former Marianas official in the top spot overseeing U.S. territories."

<snip>

UPDATE: This Newsweek piece gives Bush more credit than Abramoff's old College Republican crony Norquist: "Bush tapped Abramoff as member of his Presidential Transition Team, advising the administration on policy and hiring at the Interior Department."

...a bit more...

[boobooday]

1. Yep

He's got a notch on his bedpost for MOST of the highest ranking Repubs, and scores of the lower-ranking ones as well.

[MADem]

2. That WAPO link in the first cite is instructive

Abramoff wallowed in his access, real and imagined. When his crack administrative assistant Susan Ralston bolted for a position with White House political adviser Karl Rove, Abramoff told colleagues he had gotten her the job even though it was Ralston's old boss, Reed, who made it happen, her former colleagues said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/28/AR2005122801588_pf.html