Abramoff's "clients" vs "associates"

[KansDem]

From "Expose the Left"

January 29, 2006
Howard Dean Refuses To Believe Democrats Are Connected With Abramoff (VIDEO)

Later in the interview, Dean again made the claim that Democrats have nothing to do with Jack Abramoff, even though it is public knowledge that Abramoff’s associates ‘donated’ money to them. When Dean is asked what proof he has that the money donated to Democrats has no connection to Abramoff he says “because they said so”. I think we know what happens when Democrats are trusted by their word

http://exposetheleft.com/2006/01/29/deanfns /

Am I missing something here? Who are "Abramoff's associates?" Is the writer referring to the Indian tribes, thereby blurring the issue by stating that the Indian tribes were his "associates?"

If that's the case, then is this the best they can do?