Even more MOST CORRUPT EVER-DoJ's Coughlin pleads guilty (Abramoff)

[underpants]

Add Coughlin to this list

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/underpants/86



WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Justice Department lost one of its own to the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal Tuesday as a former high-ranking department attorney pleaded guilty to conflict of interest.

Robert E. Coughlin II admitted in federal court in Washington that he accepted meals, concert tickets and luxury seats at Redskins and Wizards games from a lobbyist while helping the lobbyist and his clients. He pleaded guilty to a single conflict-of-interest charge and faces up to 10 months in prison under a plea deal with the government.

The lobbyist is identified in court documents only as "Lobbyist A," but details make clear that he is Kevin Ring, a former member of Abramoff's lobbying team who also is under investigation.

Coughlin, now 36 and living in Texas, accepted the gifts from 2001 to 2003 while working on legislative affairs for the Justice Department. He later became deputy chief of staff of the department's criminal division - the same division handling the Abramoff probe - before he resigned a year ago, citing personal reasons.

The government estimated the value of the gifts Coughlin received at $6,180; Coughlin put it at $4,800.

Coughlin failed to report the gifts on his financial disclosure forms. He also discussed with Ring the prospect of going to work at Greenberg Traurig, the law firm where Abramoff worked, while doing favors for the lobbyist.

[fasttense]

1. Corruption and incompetency in government is a signal for a revolution. n/t