Abramoff Charged Malaysia for Meeting With Bush

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9:43 PM PST, February 14, 2006 latimes.com : National News

Abramoff Charged Malaysia for Meeting With Bush

By Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writers

WASHINGTON -- When the government of Malaysia sought to repair its tarnished image in the U.S. by arranging a meeting between President Bush and its controversial prime minister in 2002, it did what many other well-heeled interests in Washington did: It called on well-connected lobbyist Jack Abramoff for help.

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In May 2002, Mahatir met with Bush in the Oval Office and his photograph with the president was beamed around the world.

Abramoff received $1.2 million from the Malaysian government for his lobbying services in 2001 and 2002, according to an Abramoff associate. Documents obtained by Senate investigators appear to confirm at least $900,000 of that amount.

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At least one other Washington lobbying firm -- Alexander Strategies, which was run by an Abramoff friend and former chief of staff to then-House majority leader Tom DeLay -- was also compensated during this period for helping boost Malaysia's reputation in Washington. That firm, too, was given credit in some circles for helping to arrange the White House meeting as well as separate trips for leading members of Congress, including DeLay and several Democrats, to Malaysia.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-abramoff15feb15,0,5644434.story?coll=la-home-headlines

More Abramoff/Bush dealings:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2455208&mesg_id=2455208

[ProSense]

1. Rove tied to Malaysian-Bush visit

Rove tied to Malaysian-Bush visit

Abramoff reportedly called adviser to get leader into Oval Office

By Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten, Tribune Newspapers: Los Angeles Times; staff writer Stephen Braun contributed
Published February 15, 2006


WASHINGTON -- When the government of Malaysia sought to repair its tarnished image in the U.S. by arranging a meeting between President Bush and its controversial prime minister in 2002, it called on lobbyist Jack Abramoff for help.

It was a tall order. A few years earlier, the prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, had been chastised by the Clinton administration for making anti-Semitic statements and jailing political opponents. But it was important to the Malaysians to get a meeting with Bush, according to an Abramoff associate who attended meetings with the Malaysian ambassador and Abramoff.

Abramoff contacted presidential adviser Karl Rove on at least four occasions to help arrange a meeting, according to an eyewitness to the activities.

Finally, this former associate said, Rove's office called to tell Abramoff personally that the Malaysian leader would get an official White House invitation. In May 2002, Mahathir met with Bush in the Oval Office.

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0602150169feb15,1,1069203.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed