E-mails show link between Cornyn, lobbyist under investigation (Abramoff)

[deminks]

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Lobbyist_Cornyn.html

By SUZANNE GAMBOA
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed claimed in a 2001 e-mail to a lobbyist that he choreographed John Cornyn's efforts as Texas attorney general to shut down an East Texas Indian tribe's casino.

The lobbyist was Jack Abramoff, who is under federal investigation, along with his partner Michael Scanlon, on allegations of defrauding six Indian tribes of about $80 million between 2001 and 2004. The e-mail, along with about a dozen others, were released last week as part of the investigation.

Cornyn, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has denied knowing Abramoff. He also has said he was unaware of Reed's work with Abramoff. He said he did not remember receiving a letter from Young or Reed, or providing a letter to Young, although he acknowledged meeting with the minister.

But Reed's e-mails suggest Cornyn's work was instrumental to Abramoff in fending off competition for his client.

[Vanje]

1. And another one bites...

and another one bites, and another one bites , and another one bites the dust

[newscott]

3. hehe

:rofl:

[Angry Girl]

2. They can't even keep their stupid lies straight.

Morans.

URGENT! Timing is critical to save earthquake victims before winter!

[Gman]

4. Something never smelled right about Cornyn's zeal to shut down

that Indian casino. It never seemed like he had some good reason to be doing it. I'd love to see email between Cornyn and Abramoff.

The very first clue here we have that something improper was going on is the fact that Cornyn denies knowing Abramoff. Dead giveaway.

[ms liberty]

5. Oh, please let him be in it up to his eyeballs!

I cannot stand that man. He is soooo smarmy, and fake, and sanctimonious!

[Halliburton]

6. great news

:woohoo:

[Fritz67]

7. If Cornhole goes down in flames...

...I wouldn't shed a tear.

[starroute]

8. From my Abramoff files

http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/newsarchive/2001/20010927tiguas.htm

Thursday, September 27, 2001
ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN CORNYN WINS PERMANENT INJUNCTION BANNING CASINO GAMBLING IN TEXAS

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1011970699

January 25, 2002

The Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo received bad news on Jan. 17 from the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. It came in the form of a three word ruling; "Affirmed. Stay Vacated."

The ruling may temporarily end the Cinderella story of the poor tribe that made good. Those three words have brought the economic future of the Tigua Tribe to a grinding halt as tribal officials begin the bleak task of laying off nearly 800 workers at their Speaking Rock Casino.

The ruling failed to address the crucial issue of the extent to which Tigua tribal sovereignty had been compromised by its acceptance of the 1987 Restoration Act, which restored its trust relationship with the federal government.

Tribal officials had hoped that the court would decide in their favor and allow the casino to remain open, but now they are faced with not only the closure of their casino, but renewed pressure from Texas Attorney General John Cornyn. The archenemy of the casino, and Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, is asking the court to expedite the closure. If Cornyn is successful, Speaking Rock Casino will close before Feb. 7.

http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1018185153

Texas Attorney General John Cornyn has already closed a casino on the western fringe of his state; now he's pushing east. After his February shutdown of the Tiguas' casino in El Paso, Cornyn again argues that another Indian casino, this one operated by the Alabama-Coushatta tribe in Lufkin, is operating in defiance of the law.

http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/004215.html

Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and public relations consultant Michael Scanlon quietly worked with conservative religious activist Ralph Reed to help the state of Texas shut down an Indian tribe's casino in 2002, then the two quickly persuaded the tribe to pay $4.2 million to try to get Congress to reopen it.

Dozens of e-mails written by the three men and obtained by The Washington Post show how they built public support for then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn's effort get the courts to close the Tigua tribe's Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso in late 2001 and early 2002. The e-mails also reveal what appears to be an effort on the part of Abramoff and Scanlon to then exploit the financial crisis they were helping to create for the tribe by securing both the multimillion-dollar fee and $300,000 in federal political contributions, which the tribe paid.

A spokesman for Cornyn, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, said that Cornyn does not recall any contact with Reed, Abramoff or Scanlon on the Tigua issue. ...

At Reed's suggestion, Abramoff urged Scanlon to mobilize calls from the public to Cornyn's office supporting his efforts. A couple of months later, Reed reported to Abramoff that "we did get our pastors riled up last week, calling his office. Maybe that helped but who knows."

Abramoff replied: "Great. thanks Ralph. we should continue to pile on until the place is shuttered." He suggested getting "one of our guys in the legislature" to introduce a bill that would bar vendors who do business with casinos from state contracts so that "Cornyn can sit back and not be scared. Let one of our tigers go get em. Do we have someone like this and can we get it introduced as soon as possible?"

http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle.asp?ArticleID=1830

As Texas Attorney General, John Cornyn wasn’t the first public official in Texas to oppose Indian gaming. Ann Richards declared it illegal when she was the state’s governor. As did Dan Morales, when he was attorney general. But Cornyn relentlessly pursued the tribe, which had become a big contributor to Democrats after the casino opened in 1993. Shortly after taking office in 1999, he filed suit in federal court, seeking to shut the tribe’s casino down. . . .

It also helped that Karl Rove held Reed in high regard and had brought him in to work on Bush’s 2000 campaign (after first arranging for Enron CEO Ken Lay to hire Reed’s consulting firm for $300,000). By the time Cornyn went to work on the Tiguas, it was widely known that Reed had both the hottest Christian rolodex in the nation and the imprimatur of G.W. Bush. He quickly got inside Cornyn’s office and kept Abramoff apprised of the Tigua litigation. The director of Cornyn’s criminal division, according to an e-mail from Reed, provided the dates when Cornyn expected Judge Garnet Thomas Eisle to act, and an outline of Cornyn’s response to the judge’s rulings. Another source in Cornyn’s office assured Reed that "Cornyn is pushing to shut the casino ASAP." . . .

By getting inside Cornyn’s office where sources provided him a timeline for closure of the Tigua casino, Reed allowed Abramoff to make his move when the Tiguas were most desperate. Reed tracked the case for more than a year as it dragged through the courts and onto appeal. Then, on February 5, 2002, he e-mailed Abramoff to tell him that a source close to the AG said the court order closing the casino would come down February 11. By February 6, travel plans were in the works. Abramoff e-mailed Scanlon, under a subject header that read: “i’m on the phone with Tigua!” The message itself read: “Fire up the jet baby, we’re going to El Paso.” Scanlon replied: “I want all their MONEY!” Ralph Reed’s precise information regarding dates put Abramoff in position to take it. On February 12, as the casino was being closed down, Abramoff was flying to Texas.

I've got more on Cornyn as well, some involving the Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino in New Mexico (which also benefitted from his closing the El Paso casino) and some involving hijinks with the Republican Attorney General Association, in which he was involved:

http://www.tpj.org/Lobby_Watch/raga.html

September 19, 2002
Corporate Villains Seem To Like Cornyn’s A.G. Slush Fund

Dozens of alleged villains implicated in the current corporate-crime wave have given more than $5 million to a PAC that launders money for an attorney general slush fund that Texas Attorney General John Cornyn helped found in 1999.

As a U.S. Senate candidate, Cornyn rarely mentions the Republican Attorney General Association (RAGA). But during the bubble economy, he often reminded corporate interests that he helped create RAGA to prevent industry-wide lawsuits like the one that states filed against big tobacco.

This mission-and the fact that RAGA hides the identities of its donors by laundering its money through the Republican National State Election Commission (RNSEC)-has prompted protests that RAGA is a lawsuit-protection racket. “This is absolutely an effort by people with special interests to stop attorneys general from pursuing their traditional role as protectors of the public interest,” said Scott Harshbarger, the former Massachusetts attorney general who heads Common Cause.

[Straight Shooter]

9. One day it will be major news when a Repub ISN'T connected to Jack. eom

[texpatriot2004]

10. So these emails show that Cornyn is LYING, right? n.t

[Peter Frank]

11. Some actual E-mails (thread recommended)...

A glance of e-mails written by Ralph Reed concerning John Cornyn


By The Associated Press


WASHINGTON — A brief look at some 2001 e-mails between former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed and lobbyist Jack Abramoff concerning John Cornyn, who was Texas attorney general at the time and now is a U.S. senator.

• _NOV. 11, 2001, 5:43 p.m.: Abramoff's partner Michael Scanlon forwards Abramoff a news article in which the Alabama-Coushatta tribal leader said he was going forward with plans to open a casino. Scanlon wanted a law enforcement official, whose name was blacked out, to call the chief's "bluff" and threaten to put him in jail.
  
  
• _NOV. 11, 2001, 6:58 p.m.: Abramoff tells Reed in an e-mail: "This is CRITICAL. Can we get it?"
  
  
• _ NOV. 12, 2001, 9:21 a.m.: Reed responds: "I think so. I'm scheduled to talk to Cornyn today. He has also been called by Ed Young, pastor of second Baptist, a good friend who he is counting on big time in the Senate race."
  
  
• _ NOV. 12, 2001, 5:54 p.m.: Abramoff writes Reed, saying he was trying to get the National Indian Gaming Commission, which includes members of Indian tribes, to go after the Alabama-Coushatta and Tiguas, and that "Cornyn needs to get Indians to lead the way."
  
  
• _ NOV. 12, 2001, 5:55 p.m.: Reed responds: "great work. get me the details so i can alert cornyn and let him know what we are doing to help him." He adds: "talked to ed young again today. incredibly engaged and excited. he is planning on hosting a breakfast with the top pastors in houston to get them all mobilized and to provide cover for cornyn. we may invite cornyn to address them."
  
  
• _ NOV. 13, 2001, 9:40 a.m.: Abramoff writes to Reed: "Did you speak with Scanlon? He has a guy on the ground at the Alabama Coushatta reservation watching them unload hundreds of slot machines!! We need to get the AG arresting them RIGHT NOW!! We need to get the pastors rallying right now. This is going to be death for us. Please let us know what we are going to do. Thanks."

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Lobbyist_Cornyn_Glance.html

[stevedeshazer]

12. That guy is the energizer bunny of the culture of corruption.

Jack Abramoff is the gift that keeps on giving.

Another Bush toady implicated. Cornyn, you guys are really screwed. Just resign now and spare the nation.

[understandinglife]

13. AP: In e-mails, consultant claims link to Cornyn

In e-mails, consultant claims link to Cornyn: Christian Coalition leader says he influenced effort to shut casinos.

By Suzanne Gamboa

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Saturday, November 12, 2005

WASHINGTON -- Former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed claimed in a 2001 e-mail to a lobbyist that he choreographed John Cornyn's efforts as Texas attorney general to shut down an East Texas Indian tribe's casino.

The lobbyist was Jack Abramoff, who is under federal investigation, along with his partner Michael Scanlon, on allegations of defrauding six Indian tribes of about $80 million from 2001 to 2004. The e-mail, along with about a dozen others, was released last week as part of the investigation.

<clip>

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/auto/epaper/editions/saturday/metro_state_34573a79529601410025.html

This fella Abramoff may actually destroy the Republican Party, or at least whatever is remaining after W, Dickie and the neoconsters are finished.



Peace.

[babylonsister]

14. I would so love to see Cornyn crash and burn!

He was used tonight as a * apologist on NBC News. They are ALL a bunch of crooks! :mad:

[Frances]

15. And I would so love to see Reed crash and burn

I think there should be a special place in hell for people like Reed who misuse Christ for their own political and personal gain.

[Peter Frank]

16. Kick'n it...

:kick: