New evidence is emerging that the top Democrat on the Senate committee currently investigating Jack Abramoff got political money arranged by the lobbyist back in 2002 shortly after the lawmaker took action favorable to Abramoff’s tribal clients.
Doncha just love that. Congress is investigating itself for corruption. The escalating Abramoff investigation is threatening to topple ranking Democrats as well as Republicans.
From a conservative blog:
Now, all of a sudden, the Democrats have become very, very silent. Those that have commented claim no knowledge of Abramoff’s involvement with the six Indian tribes that donated tens of thousands of dollars to their campaigns between 1999 and 2004 through Abramoff’s recommendations. While the biggest winner in this handout festival was Republican Conrad Burns ($141K), one-third of the largest recipients were Democrats. Here’s a list of a few of them:
Rep. Patrick Kennedy: $128K (A Kennedy needs money?)
Senator Harry Reid: >$40K (Senate Minority leader)
Senator Tom Daschle: >$40K
Rep. Dick Gephardt: $32.5K
Reid got $66,000, it appears.
The Abramoff web touched members of both parties. For example, the leadership fund of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., received $66,000 in Abramoff-related political contributions from 2001 to 2004; Reid wrote a letter in 2002 to Interior Secretary Gale Norton opposing a tribal casino that was also opposed by one of Abramoff’s clients.
The corruption is everywhere and omnipresent. Serious fireworks are coming. Expect more Randy Cunningham’s going down in flames, going to prison. At least I hope so. We need legislators who are beholden to the people, not to their corporate keepers.