House Panel Approves Report On Lobbyist’s (Abramoff) Contacts With White House

[babylonsister]

So they're acknowledging the report but taking no further action?

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=news-000002895977

House Panel Approves Report On Lobbyist’s Contacts With White House
By Joanna Anderson and Molly K. Hooper, CQ Staff

snip//

Waxman said the panel’s findings contradict administration claims that Abramoff got “nothing out of” his White House contacts. It is “clear that the White House misled the public when it claimed to have thoroughly investigated the extent of Mr. Abramoff’s relationship with the White House,” he said.

The report’s footnotes offer details about administration officials or Abramoff staffers who either made relevant information off-limits as part of their interview ground rules or didn’t talk at all, saying if pressed they would invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

The Justice Department is not yet done with its investigation of Abramoff’s dealings with government officials. Waxman said he did not know whether Thursday’s report would prompt additional convictions, adding he and Davis were not making any referrals.

“But I expect the Justice Department will look closely at what we have discovered,” Waxman said.

Waxman noted the committee’s investigation had led to the conviction of one former department official, who earlier this year pled guilty to assisting the Choctaw tribe while receiving concert tickets and meals from Abramoff associates. Abramoff’s firm conducted a successful effort to win a $16 million grant from the Justice Department for a jail for the Choctaws.

Abramoff himself is in prison on an unrelated matter.

[acmavm]

1. Further action? Have you seen them take further action on anything?

I mean, Gonzo, Meyers, whomever, they pretend they're doing something than it just fades away into nothing.

Oh, except for steriods. These people sure know how to rake the professional atheletes over the coals.

I guess it all depends on what your priorities are.