Washington scandal of the summer according to Ted Koeppel:

[undeterred]

CASINOS, CASH, AND CONGRESS: Is a Summer Scandal Brewing in Washington?

June 21, 2005

Today is the first day of summer and, here in Washington, that means we are due for some sort of scandal. In this town, after all, summer scandals seem to break out as reliably as unbearably hot and muggy afternoons.

In fact, a scandal is brewing this summer in Washington and, as we like to say in the news business, this one looks like it has "legs."

It involves a well-connected Washington lobbyist, Indian tribes flush with casino cash, key members of Congress, and a political operative best known for his work with the Christian Coalition.

The lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, is under investigation by two Senate committees, the Justice Department, the FBI, and other federal agencies. Abramoff and his business partner, a former spokesman for Rep. Tom DeLay, collected more than $80 million from Native American tribes to protect their casino interests, and now some tribes say they were defrauded. The lobbyists also raised eyebrows by hiring Ralph Reed, the former head of the Christian Coalition who's now running for lieutenant governor in Georgia. Reed whipped up anti-gambling sentiment against Indian casinos in Texas, among other places, while taking millions from Abramoff's gaming clients. (Reed insists he didn't know the exact source of the money.)

Tomorrow, Sen. John McCain, who chairs the Indian Affairs Committee, resumes public hearings on this tangled web of influence-peddling. But the developing scandal is instructive for what it reveals about how big money is solicited from special interests and spread around Washington. It's an eye-opening look at the hidden costs of doing business with our elected representatives.

Even other lobbyists in town are worried about the lasting stain they fear this episode will leave.

We hope you'll join us in welcoming summer to Washington tonight.

Chris Bury & the "Nightline" staff
Correspondent