Lobby Giant Is Scandal Casualty

[bottomofthehill]

One of Washington's top lobbying operations will shut down at the end of the month because of its ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former House majority leader Tom DeLay. .........

Buckham said in a telephone interview that the company was fatally damaged by publicity about the ongoing federal investigation into the affairs of Abramoff, who pleaded guilty last week to fraud and conspiracy charges. Abramoff is cooperating with prosecutors in their probe of congressional corruption. ......

Buckham said that he will be leaving the lobbying business and hasn't any regrets. "I'm at peace with all this," he said. "I'm not bitter. I'm not resentful. I harbor no ill feelings toward anyone. The important thing in life is having a clean heart and I do. I'm not even upset with the press


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901996.html

[global1]

1. I'm At Peace With All This. I'm Not Bitter. I'm Not resentful.......

I harbor no ill feelings toward anyone. The important thing in life is having a clean heart and I do. I'm not even upset with the press, he said as he was packing his bags and readying to leave the country.

[liberalnurse]

2. Looks like we get 2-birds, no 3 birds with one stone.....

This part makes me sick......The owner/lobbyist a DeLay former Aide....and hired/paid DeLays WIFE for Chripe sake!

snips >

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/09/AR2006010901996.html

Alexander Strategy Group, which had thrived since its founding in 1998 thanks largely to its close connections to DeLay (R-Tex.), will cease to operate except for a relatively small business-development division, Edwin A. Buckham, the former top DeLay aide who owns the company, said yesterday.

and...

Buckham's firm employed DeLay's wife, Christine, for four years. It also benefited by working closely with Abramoff. Abramoff's plea agreement mentioned his close ties to Tony C. Rudy, one of Buckham's colleagues at ASG, identified in the court papers as "Staffer A."

Rudy, a former DeLay aide, worked for Abramoff before joining ASG. According to the plea document, a political consulting firm run by Rudy's wife allegedly received $50,000 in exchange for official actions Rudy took while working for DeLay.

end>

[punpirate]

3. Hmmm, gonna close the place and...

... shut the lights out for good. Wonder how they're going to shred all that evidence in the dark? Not to be telling the Feds how to do the job, but I would hope there were subpoenae in process the moment Buckham made this announcement.

[bottomofthehill]

4. Not shut the lights off for good

THe ones who are not going to Jail will open a new shop with another name, try do dis-associate themselves from the old firm and start the entire shakedown again.