Bush rushes to get rid of dirty money from crooked lobbyist: TIMES

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The Times January 05, 2006

Bush rushes to get rid of dirty money from crooked lobbyist
By Tim Reid in Washington
Both sides of the House are scrambling to distance themselves from a disgraced lobbyist



PRESIDENT BUSH’S re-election campaign will give to charity thousands of dollars received from the lobbyist at the heart of a Capitol Hill bribery investigation, while the White House and nervous politicians from both parties scrambled to distance themselves from the widening corruption scandal.
Scott McClellan, Mr Bush’s spokesman, said yesterday that Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who pleaded guilty on Tuesday to bribing politicians, donated thousands to last year’s Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. Abramoff, whose plea deal with federal prosecutors makes him the star witness in an investigation that could implicate at least 12 politicians, most of them Republicans, also raised more than $100,000 (£57,000) for Mr Bush’s re-election campaign, earning him the honorary title “pioneer”.

Although there is no suggestion that Mr Bush or any senior administration officials were involved, the White House’s swift efforts to wash its hands of any dealings with Abramoff demonstrated just how radioactive the once-powerful lobbyist has become in a city where he lavished meals, travel and campaign donations on dozens of politicians. Abramoff pleaded guilty yesterday to separate conspiracy and fraud charges in Florida. He acknowledged that he faked documents used to get a $60million loan to buy gambling ships in 2000. Under a plea agreement four other charges were dropped.

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Abramoff’s largesse “went far beyond lawful lobbying”, said Alice Fisher, head of the Justice Department’s criminal division. “The corruption scheme with Mr Abramoff is very extensive. We’re going to follow this wherever it goes. Government officials and government action are not for sale.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,173-1970913,00.html