Nine Members of Congress, Staffers Probed in Abramoff Investigation

[UpInArms]

http://www.knx1070.com/pages/14527.php?

WASHINGTON, DC (KNX) -- The Justice Department has examined the financial records of at least nine members of Congress, including six Republicans and three Democrats, as well as those of least seven former staffers, many of whom have been identified publicly as having had links to indicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The revelation comes in today's issue of the Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call.

The audit began last summer, running from June through October, the newspaper said. Justice Department aides examined the records of Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) and Representatives Tom DeLay (R-Texas), John Doolittle (R-Calif.) and Bob Ney (R-Ohio), as well as ex-staffers for three of those lawmakers, according to House and Senate records.

Justice officials declined to comment, but many of the financial searches appear to be connected to the continuing two-year probe of Abramoff’s dealings with Congress and the Bush administration. In addition, the agency checked out the financial records of several lawmakers who have had no public connection to the investigation: Representatives Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and John Sweeney (R-N.Y.), as well as Del Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa).

...more...

[central scrutinizer]

1. A couple of weeks from now,

the Democrats will be completely absolved but that article will be on page 17 and no one will see it - everyone will just remember that it is a "bi-partisan scandal".

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. And the hits just keep on coming

Ah, what a great way to start the week.

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen opens up the whole Miami/CANF can of worms. This is getting good.

[seafan]

3. Another reason Ros-Lehtinen is of interest as related to Abramoff:

Shawn Vassell is a former staffer of BOTH Sen. Conrad Burns R-MT AND Jack Abramoff's lobbying team.

Shawn Vassell served as a "team leader" in the infamous FL 2000 recount, with several of his friends taking part directly in the Brooks Bros. riot in Miami.


This is the first I've heard of Ros-Lehtinen's name emerging in the Abramoff scandal.

[oldtime dfl_er]

4. Yea, right, Jim McDermott

you gotta be kidding me. "Baghdad Jim", as he's been nicknamed by the Repukes for his opposition to the war, is a long time target of smears and lies by them and has amassed a huge debt defending himself from their swiftboat-like tactics.

http://www.cafepress.com/scarebaby/1275605

[0007]

5. What does this mean?

"In addition, the agency checked out the financial records of several lawmakers who have had no public connection to the investigation"

[lovuian]

6. It means they use the investigation on the Democrats

just to see who is giving them donations... so they can screw them.......