Sec. of the Interior Gale Norton and Hastert in focus

[ProSense]

Hastert letter to Interior Sec. urging block of casino under scrutiny
Abramoff plea could bring renewed scrutiny of Hastert letter
BY MIKE DORNING
Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON - The guilty plea by lobbyist Jack Abramoff could bring renewed scrutiny of a letter sent by House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois to Interior Secretary Gale Norton urging her to block an Indian casino opposed by rival tribes represented by Abramoff just one week after the lobbyist hosted a fundraiser for Hastert's political action committee. Many in official Washington, Republicans and Democrats, were scrambling Wednesday to try to distance themselves from Abramoff - Hastert among them - fearing that they could be tainted by even the appearance of an association with the now disgraced lobbyist.

Abramoff pleaded guilty this week to corruption charges and agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in a broadening investigation of bribery in Washington, which Abramoff admitted included the exchange of campaign contributions and other favors for official assistance to his clients. As part of his plea agreement, Abramoff is expected to help investigators determine whether others, including elected officials, broke any laws.

Indian tribes represented by Abramoff donated more than $20,000 to Hastert around the time of the fundraiser, which was held at Signatures, a Washington restaurant owned by Abramoff. Hastert's campaign committee did not pay the tab for the June 3, 2003, luncheon fundraiser until last year, following media inquiries about the unpaid check.

Hastert, who wields considerable influence as the top-ranking Republican in the House, was joined in his letter to Norton by three of the most powerful House Republican leaders: former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, then-Majority Whip Roy Blunt and Chief Deputy House Whip Eric Cantor, all of whom also received campaign contributions from Indian tribes represented by Abramoff.


more...

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/politics/13550936.htm



See Kerry's statement on voting not to confirm Gale Norton:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=62483&mesg_id=62502

[ProSense]

1. She resigned. Also,

Dynamicdems posted this in Nov.:

The Greening of Italia Federici
By Michael Scherer
Salon.com
Friday 18 November 2005

Snip...

"We are also going to do something mean to Senator John Kerry," Federici wrote Abramoff, a few days before the ad ran. She then described a video CREA had packaged that showed Sen. Kerry leaving an Earth Day celebration and stepping into a gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle. She sent the video to at least two television programs on the Fox News Network, "The O'Reilly Factor" and "Hannity and Colmes." "I am letting EVERYONE know that you are the only reason we have the funding to do this," she gushed to Abramoff in the same e-mail."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=53625&mesg_id=53625

[globalvillage]

2. I hate that bitch.

Federici. She's way at the top of my list, tied with Lynn Cheney.