The federal investigations into
Jack Abramoff and his political and business dealings are among the broadest and most extensive in American political history,[citation needed] involving well over a dozen offices of the
FBI and over 100 FBI agents tasked exclusively to the investigation.[citation needed] Given the extent and complexity of the suspected corruption, an entire inter-governmental task force, involving many federal government departments and agencies, has been established to aid the federal investigation.[citation needed] The U.S. Justice Department has announced that it will not reveal the details of the investigation, or who specifically has been targeted for investigation until indictments are issued. Under his plea agreements, Abramoff is required to answer all questions by federal investigators and prosecutors.
The investigations led to several plea agreements by those involved, including Congressman
Bob Ney (R-OH).[1] Abramoff himself also pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, including tax fraud and bribing public officials.[2] Abramoff's activities also became an issue for many
Democratic candidates in the
November 2006 House and
Senate elections, as many challengers painted the incumbent
Republican Congress as corrupted by Abramoff and his powerful allies.[3][4][5] On March 29, 2006, he was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of more than $21 million.
As a result of Abramoff's criminal behavior, prominent politicians with close ties to Abramoff as well as hundreds of Congressional politicians who have received money from his clients (see the
monetary influence of Jack Abramoff) came under media scrutiny (with some even donating the money to charity[6]), with
lobbying reform proposals presented by both parties. In September 2006 both the Senate and House passed bills and rules changes to make public
earmarks but not make other substantive lobbying reforms.[7]
Abramoff was under investigation by federal
grand juries for his involvement in the multimillion-dollar defrauding of Native American tribes who were his lobbying clients, and related bribery of public officials.[8] On January 3, 2006, Abramoff pled guilty to three felony counts: conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion (Abramoff owes the
Internal Revenue Service $1.7 million for that charge). In addition, Abramoff and other defendants must make restitution of at least $25 million
USD that was defrauded from clients, most notably the
Native American tribes. Abramoff's guilty plea was part of a
plea deal that requires him to cooperate in the ongoing investigation of his role in congressional corruption.[9]
The agreement alleges that Abramoff bribed public officials, including a person identified as "Representative #1," confirmed to be
Bob Ney, a Republican congressman from
Ohio.[10] Also included: the hiring of congressional staffers and conspiring with them to lobby their former employers; including members of Congress in violation of a one-year federal ban on such lobbying.[11] Ney has established a legal defense fund for himself to defend against possible charges related to Abramoff.[12] On January 15, 2006, Ney relinquished his post as Chairman of the House Administration Committee. On May 8, 2006, Ney's former Chief of Staff, Neil Volz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, including wire fraud and violating House rules.[13] On June 20, 2006, White House procurement official
David Safavian, a long-time colleague of Abramoff and
Grover Norquist, was convicted of lying and obstruction for concealing his efforts at the
GSA to aid Abramoff.[14]
Abramoff was under investigation by a grand jury in
Guam over an alleged plot to control the functions of the courts in that territory, until the prosecutor was removed from office by the Bush administration.[15]
Abramoff was indicted on August 11, 2005, by a grand jury in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for
bank fraud arising from the purchase of
SunCruz Casinos. On January 4, 2006, Abramoff pled guilty to conspiring to commit
wire fraud and
mail fraud, and of a separate charge of wire fraud.
Enumerates Abramoffs staff who were formerly employed by US Congressman.
Other scandals
Abramoff made multiple payments to
Doug Bandow, former Senior Fellow at the
Cato Institute, and at least one other think tank expert,
Peter Ferrara, to write opinion pieces favorable to his clients.[16]
Abramoff was involved in a scandal to influence the United States Department of Interior to prevent the Jena Band of
Choctaw Indian Tribe from building a Casino that would take away money from one of Abramoff's tribal clients. Abramoff paid money to the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA), in exchange for help from CREA president
Italia Federici in persuading Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Interior
J. Steven Griles to block the Jena Band's Casino application.[17]
In 2002 Abramoff was a
registered lobbyist for the General Council for Islamic Banks, for which he was paid $20,000.[18]Saleh Abdullah Kamel, the chairman of this Council, was investigated for allegedly funding terrorism and terrorists including
Osama bin Laden.[19]