Interesting Abramoff timeline

[ProSense]

The Timeline

The Washington Post
Sunday, May 1, 2005; A08

2000

February: Boulis enters serious negotiations to sell SunCruz Casinos to Abramoff and Kidan. SunCruz has 11 boats that run daily offshore gambling cruises.

May: Abramoff, DeLay and Rudy are among those on 10-day trip to Britain and Scotland, which includes golf at renowned St. Andrews course.

June 9: DeLay's office gives a U.S. flag that has flown over the Capitol to Boulis.

nore...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/01/AR2005050100091_pf.html/

[Lefty48197]

1. Yawn

...another Republican Congressional bribery, money grubbing, vote selling, election stealing scandal. These things don't even interest me any more... (Just kidding - thanks for the link btw!)

[Spazito]

2. Very interesting timeline!

Thanks for posting this.

[mirandapriestly]

3. Thanks for posting this time line. I have been following the story,

but am confused what with ALL the corruption from this administration. I think I'll read through this to get a better understanding since they actually are being held accountable for something for once (well hopefully)

[ProSense]

4. You're welcome all. n/t

[pk_du]

5. Dont forget these two crackers...

March 30th 2000 - Bob Ney castigates SunCruz casinos and Gus Boulis on the House floor.

HON. ROBERT W. NEY
OF OHIO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, March 30, 2000

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, you hear many arguments surrounding the gaming industry in America. Some have merit, some do not. Some criticism is deserved, some is not. Mr. Speaker, before I make my statement today I want to make it abundantly clear that while I am not an ardent proponent of the gaming industry nor an ardent foe of the gaming industry, I am an ardent foe of illegal activity in the gaming industry. Furthermore, I am an ardent support of consumer rights and consumer rights is exactly what I intend to discuss today.

At the heart of my comments today is how certain gaming companies treat their patrons and how they conduct business. I believe that the vast majority of casino owners play by the rules, treat their patrons fairly, and provide quality entertainment for individuals and families. I have talked with many of these businessmen over the years who have conducted themselves in such a professional manner. However, there are a few bad apples out there who don't play by the rules and that is just plain wrong.

One such example is the case of Suncruz casino's based out of Florida. Florida authorities, particularly Attorney General Butterworth have repeatedly reprimanded Suncruz casinos and its owner Gus Boulis for taking illegal bets, not paying out their customers properly and has had to take steps to prevent Suncruz from conducting operations all together. In fact, a few years ago the Broward County Sheriffs Office, under the supervision of Mr Butterworth, raided Suncruz ships seizing their equipment.

Mr. Speaker, how Suncruz Casinos and Gus Boulis conduct themselves with regard to Florida laws is very unnerving. But the consumer rights issue is even more disheartening. On December 1, 1998 the Broward County Sheriffs department announced that they had uncovered evidence that dealers on SunCruz ships were ``cheating passengers by using incomplete decks of cards.'' This type of conduct gives the gaming industry a black eye and should not be tolerated.

Mr. Speaker, I want to repeat myself again. The vast majority of casino owners and operators are good honest people, but when an owner or operator stoops to this level to make a buck it hurts the public and it hurts the industry as a whole. I believe we can strike a balance here and our first step is to ensure that the average citizen is not hoodwinked by a dishonest casino operator.

There should be clear codes of conduct that are adhered to by every casino owner and operator. On the Ohio River we have gaming interests that run clean operations and provide quality entertainment. I don't want to see the actions of one bad apple in Florida, or anywhere else to affect the business aspect of this industry or hurt any innocent casino patron in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that steps will be taken by the industry, and in the case of lawbreakers- by the appropriate authorities to weed out the bad apples so that we can protect consumers across the country.


Oct 26th 2000 - Bob Ney again rises to talk about SunCruz - this time to Kiss Adam Kidans ( Abramoffs partner in Suncruz buy/rub-out)ass

HON. ROBERT W. NEY
OF OHIO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, October 26, 2000

Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, a few months ago I felt it necessary to speak out against alleged abuses in the gaming industry. I did so not to express disapproval of the gaming industry as a whole but to express my frustration with those in the gaming industry who may unfairly take advantage of their patrons. My earlier statement was related to the previous actions of SunCruz Casino at the time and based on the findings of Florida Attorney General Robert Butterworth and several news reports.

I was concerned that some individuals who participate in gambling for entertainment and recreation can unwittingly fall prey to unethical practices by a few rouge casino owners. I said then and will repeat now that I am not anti-gaming, and I would not call myself pro-gaming either. I do, however, strongly believe in the concept that those who choose to gamble should be able to do so in the establishments of respected gaming interest who treat their customers and their communities fairly.

Given the Attorney General's findings and the record of SunCruz under the previous owner, I did not believe that the casino was operating a fair and responsible establishment.

Since my previous statement, I have come to learn that SunCruz Casino now finds itself under new ownership and, more importantly, that its new owner has a renowned reputation for honesty and integrity. the new owner, Mr. Adam Kidan, is most well known for his successful enterprise, Dial-a-Mattress, but he is also well known as a solid individual and a respected member of his community.

While Mr. Kidan certainly has his hands full in his efforts to clean up SunCruz's reputation, his track record as a businessman and as a citizen lead me to believe that he will easily transform SunCruz from a questionable enterprise to an upstanding establishment that the gaming community can be proud of.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of my statement is not to criticize or promote the gaming industry or to favor one casino owner over another, but rather stand by the consumers who patronize casinos as a form of entertainment. I believe that every individual who visits a gaming vessel in Florida, should know that they are gaming in an establishment that represents the community well, and gives every individual a fair shot. I hope that all casinos owners and operators share in this philosophy. I look forward to the positive changes Mr. Kidan is more than capable of brining to the gaming industry and I hope that others will follow his lead when he brings positive changes to SunCruz .