Can someone post a cliffnotes link to the Abramoff scandal?

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I don't really understand what's going on. Thanks.

[ClassWarrior]

1. Ol' Jack stole money from his lobbying clients, laundered it through...

...fake charities, and doled it out to his Republicon buddies in Congress. Keeping a nice cut for himself.

1-2-3. 4.

NGU.

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3. oooooh. Thanks.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

2. Making Sense of the Abramoff Scandal (Alternet)

Making Sense of the Abramoff Scandal (Alternet)




Making Sense of the Abramoff Scandal

By Geov Parrish, AlterNet. Posted December 20, 2005.


It's a sordid tale of Washington corruption and crony capitalism at its worst. Here's a primer to help you understand this growing scandal. Tools

The ever-widening scandal surrounding Republican super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff threatens to take down at least a half-dozen Congressmen in 2006, more of their aides, Executive Branch employees, and untold numbers of other members of the Republican Beltway hierarchy. At least four dozen lawmakers from both parties are documented as having taken actions favorable to Abramoff clients around the time they received large donations from Abramoff and/or his clients.

It's a sordid tale of Washington corruption, and of crony capitalism at its worst, and it is so dizzyingly complex that few media outlets and even fewer members of the public have yet appreciated just how thoroughly it indicts not just Republican leadership, but the entire bipartisan way of crafting public policy that masquerades as 21st century American democracy.

Abramoff figures in at least four separate, interrelated scandals:

1) He and partner Adam Kidan have been indicted on wire fraud and conspiracy charges involving the 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos, a Florida gambling boat venture;

2) He funneled money into the PAC run by House Majority Whip Rep. Tom DeLay that has led to Texas charges against DeLay for illegally laundering campaign donations;

3) He and partner Michael Scanlon are suspected of defrauding and vastly overbilling Native American tribes and other clients with gaming interests; and

4) He and Scanlon are also suspected of bribing and offering gifts and spousal jobs to Congressmembers and Executive Branch officials in exchange for actions favorable to their clients.

cont'd >

http://www.alternet.org/story/29827 /

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4. thanks!

:hi:

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. Amy Goodman(DemocracyNOW) has awesome show on the Abramhoff affair

to watch it or listen to it using online streaming using RealPlayer or download for MP3
here is the link:

http://www.democracynow.org/streampage.pl

"The Biggest Congressional Scandal in Over a Century? GOP Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Pleads Guilty to Three Felony Counts

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff admitted to defrauding at least four Native American tribes of tens of millions of dollars, bribing government officials and evading taxes. Abramoff has reportedly agreed to testify against several members of Congress who received favors or donations from him or his clients. Washington analysts say the corruption scandal could take down as many as twelve lawmakers. We speak with Peter Stone, a staff reporter for the National Journal, about the details of the case.

Congress on Edge As Abramoff Agrees to Testify About Widespread Corruption on Capitol Hill

to watch it with online streaming using RealPlayer or download for MP3
here is the link:

http://www.democracynow.org/streampage.pl

We take a closer look at who benefited from their ties to Jack Abramoff inside Congress. The Wall Street Journal is reporting Abramoff says he has information that could implicate 60 lawmakers. One Republican lawmaker -- Congressman Robert Ney of Ohio -- has already been subpoenaed. We speak with researcher Judd Legum about the lawmakers involved.

Native American Tribes Attempt to Recover After Being Defrauded of Tens of Millions by Abramoff

Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who served as chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that investigated the scandal, and Tigua tribal governor Arturo Senclair, of one of the Indian tribes defrauded by Abramoff, discuss the Native American tribes embroiled in the Abramoff scandal. They hired Abramoff to represent them in Washington regarding casino and gambling issues. As their lobbyist, Abramoff instructed the tribes to make political donations to certain politicians and recommended they hire former aide of Tom DeLay, Michael Scanlon, as their publicist.

Forced Abortions & Sweatshops: A Look at Jack Abramoff's Ties to the South Pacific Island of Saipan & How Tom DeLay Became An Advocate for Sweatshop Factory Owners

We speak with ABC News' Brian Ross who exposed in 1998 the horrific labor conditions in the U.S. territory of Saipan. At the time, Jack Abramoff was Saipan's hired gun on K Street and Tom DeLay was one of the island's chief advocates on Capitol Hill. DeLay backed the sweatshop owners even though it was exposed that the factory was forcing women to have abortions and treated workers like indentured servants."

to watch it with online streaming using RealPlayer or download for MP3
here is the link:

http://www.democracynow.org/streampage.pl