Abramoff, the triplets and the nanny fund (The Hill)

[kpete]

Abramoff, the triplets and the nanny fund
By Susan Crabtree

Before the lobbying scandal hit Washington and GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff was still one of the town’s most influential powerbrokers, it may have seemed like a normal, even run-of-the mill personal Washington event.

Abramoff, who recently pleaded guilty to fraud, bribery and tax evasion, helped host a baby shower for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and his wife in December 2003. The Rohrabachers were expecting triplets and feeling the pinch of the prevailing congressional salary of $154,700 at the time while maintaining homes in D.C. and the lawmaker’s pricey Southern California coastal district.

Abramoff’s and his wife’s names appeared on the invitation, with Reps. George Radanovich (R-Calif.) and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) and their wives. The names of former Rep. David McIntosh (R-Ind.), who left Congress in 2001 and became a lobbyist at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, also were listed as hosts.

The lobbyist, who had been friends with Rohrabacher since the early 1980s when the future lawmaker was a White House speechwriter and Abramoff was chairman of the College Republicans, allowed the couple to use his restaurant, Signatures, between lunch and dinner for the shower. Only hors d’oeuvres were served, Rohrabacher disclosed in a Los Angeles Times article two weeks ago.

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/012506/news2.html