FOIA Request (Exhibits): CREW: Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation...

8/7/2019 FOIA Request (Exhibits): CREW: Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Regarding T

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ce Department drops investigation ofDeLay ties to Abramoff

Q;J)e tv bingtOlt Jl,olitJustice Department dropsinvestigation ofDeLay ties toAbramoffBy R. Jeffrey SmithWashington Post StaffWriterTuesday, August 17, 2010; AO1Former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.)was both defiant and ebullient on Monday afterhearing that the Justice Department had dropped itssix-year investigation of his interactions with lobbyistJack Abramoff and a host of other politicalcontributors for whom he allegedly did political favors.

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"I always knew this day would come," DeLay said on the telephone from his home in Sugar Land, Tex.He said he has no regrets about his conduct in Washington, insisted that his actions were always legal,and assailed what he called the "criminalization of politics" by a federal ethics enforcement process heconsiders deeply flawed.His celebratory remarks came a week before he is slated to return to a Texas courtroom for a pretrialhearing on allegations of felony conspiracy and money laundering, which still could put the 63-year-oldpolitician behind bars. His 2005 indictment in that Texas case is what short-circuited his three-yeartenure in one ofWashington's most powerful jobs.The Justice Department declined to comment about DeLay's claim of exoneration, following its policy ofnot discussing the status or termination of its criminal investigations. A source familiar with thelong-running inquiry, in which many witnesses were brought before one or more grand juries, confirmedthat it had ended.Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said the main reason for dropping the effort was thatprosecutors were unable to compel incriminating testimony by a former DeLay aide, Edwin A.Buckham, and find other witnesses or evidence that could have led to a conviction.Buckham has similarly been cleared by the Justice Department, a source close to DeLay said. Buckham'sattorney, David Geneson, declined to comment.In recent years, DeLay has worked on rehabilitating his public image as well as his career, appearing in atelevision dancing competition, working as a paid consultant to corporations and advising -- by his owndescription -- the factions that make up the "tea party" movement.Asked whether he plans to attempt a return to Congress, DeLay acknowledged that his politicaleffectiveness has been hampered by years of scrutiny. People don't necessarily "want to associate withyou" after being under such a heavy legal cloud for so long, he said, explaining why he has declined toendorse candidates.The Justice Department investigation focused in part on payments made by Buckham, a former adviser

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Department drops investigation ofDeLay ties to Abramoff http://www.washingtonpost.com!wp-dyn/contentiarticle/2010

who was a registered lobbyist in 2000, to cover some of DeLay's expenses on an overseas golf trip.Doing so violated House rules, but DeLay said he was unaware of the payments. Buckham'snow-shuttered firm employed DeLay's wife, Christine, from 1998 to 2002 and set up a retirementaccount for her. A political action committee that Buckham controlled employed both DeLay's wife andhis daughter.The payments amounted to nearly half a million dollars, drawn partly from revenue from corporationsand their offrcers that had interests in legislation pending before the House.DeLay and Buckham were at one point two of the principal targets in the department's multifacetedprobe ofAbramoffs lobbying practice that led to the convictions of 19 people, including two DeLayaides. DeLay has maintained he was unaware of their wrongdoing. He said Monday that the department"couldn't find anything" otherwise in the documents, e-mails and computer hard drives that his officehad turned over to investigators without protest.The source familiar with the investigation said that some of those working on the probe had disagreedabout the importance of holding out for Buckham's testimony when Abramoff himselfwas potentiallyavailable as a cooperating witness. Abramoff recently worked in a kosher pizza parlor in Baltimore whilewrapping up a four-year sentence for conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion.DeLay referred to Abramoff, who admitted to corrupting public offrcials and defrauding his clients, as "afriend ofmine." He said Abramoffs lavish pay from Native American tribes for lobbying had resultedfrom inattention by the leaders of those tribes.Known for a hard-edged, take-no-prisoners political style reflected in his nickname, "The Hammer,"DeLay decried what he called "new politics" in which opponents try to "drown you," ruin your financesand then "dance on your grave."When asked whether he thought the recent House ethics charges against Democratic Reps. MaxineWaters (Calif.) and Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.) also resulted an effort to punish successful fundraising andstrong political views, DeLay said their cases are different from his.DeLay's principal attorney, Richard Cullen ofRichmond, said the Justice Department's decision alsocovered Christine DeLay. "We had conversations off and on during '05, '06, '07 that were across theboard," Cullen said of his contacts with the Justice Department. "Prosecutors follow leads and a lot ofthose leads were in the paper."DeLay and Cullen said that he was never interviewed during the probe.Staffwriter James V Grimaldi contributed to this report.View all comments that have been posted about this article.Post a Comment

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Aide Pleads Guilty InLobby Case - The Ne w York Times http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E4D7123

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This copy is for your personal. noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution toyour colleagues, clients or customers, please click here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article.Visit www.nytreprints.com for samples and additional information. Order a reprint of this article now.

April 1, 2006Ex-DeLayAide Pleads Guilty In Lobby CaseBy PHILIP SHENON

A former top aide to Representative Tom DeLay pleaded guilty on Friday to charges that heaccepted thousands of dollars in illegal gifts, including money funneled through a consultingfirm he set up with hi s wife an d travel by private je t to California, in return for influencinglegislation on behalf of th e lobbyist J ack Abramoff.The plea agreement by th e aide, Tony Rudy, a lobbyist who was Mr. DeLay's deputy chiefofstaff from 1998 to 2000 an d on e of his closest advisers, makes Mr. Rudy th e second formerDeLay aide to admit wrongdoing in th e corruption investigation centered on Mr. Abramoff.Mr. Abramoffpleaded guilty in the investigation in January, acknowledging that he ha dconspired with Mr. Rudy and others to corrupt public officials, including members ofCongress.Another ofMr. Abramoffs former lobbying partners, Michael Scanlon, who ha d been Mr.DeLay's press secretary in th e House, pleaded guilty last year to similar criminal charges in ascandal that ha s pu t pressure on Congressional leaders to tighten federal ethics rules.Mr. Rudy, Mr. Scanlon and Mr. Abramoff are all cooperating with th e Justice Department,which is investigating whether Mr. DeLay an d other members of Congress, includingRepresentative Bob Ney, Republican of Ohio, accepted travel, gifts or money from Mr. Abramoffand his associates in return for legislative favors.Mr. Rudy's plea agreement, which covers actions he took on Mr. Abramoffs behalf both whileon Mr. DeLay's staff and after leaving th e House to work as a lobbyist, did no t allege an ywrongdoing by Mr. DeLay, the former Republican majority leader, or sa y that Mr. DeLay knewof an y criminal activities by Mr. Rudy. Mr. DeLay is under indictment in Texas on unrelatedcharges involving violations of state election laws.But th e plea agreement suggested more trouble for Mr. Ney. I t said that Mr. Rudy, who joinedMr. Abramoffs lobbying firm after leaving Mr. DeLay's staff in late 2000 , said he, too, wasinvolved in "providing things of value to an d soliciting and obtaining th e agreement" of alawmaker -- identified only as "Representative NO.1" -- to assist Mr. Abramoff and his clients.Federal law-enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because federal grandjury rules bar them from commenting publicly, said "Representative NO.1" was Mr. Ney.

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Aide Pleads Guilty In Lobby Case - The New York Times http://query.nytimes .com!gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E4D7123

Mr. Rudy's plea agreement suggested that tens ofthousands of dollars in illegal gifts werefunneled to Mr. Rudy through a consulting firm that he and his wife, Lisa Rudy, established inAugust 1999, when Mr. Rudy was working on Mr. DeLay's House staff. According to the JusticeDepartment's calculations, the firm, Liberty Consulting, took in about $86 ,000 , much of itfrom a nonprofit group underwritten by Mr. Abramoffs lobbying clients.Under the plea bargain, the Justice Department agreed not to prosecute Ms. Rudy in exchangefor her cooperation. Prosecutors said at the hearing that they would ask that Mr. Rudy, whoremains free, not be incarcerated until his cooperation was no longer needed in theinvestigation.He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250 ,000 fine and restitution of up to$100,000 . But under federal sentencing guidelines, Judge Ellen Huvelle of the Federal DistrictCourt in Washington said he was more likely to receive a prison sentence between two andtwo-and-a-halfyears.In return for the gifts, court documents show, Mr. Rudy helped block a bill in the summer of2000 to restrict Internet gambling -- Mr. Abramoff represented an Internet-gambling company-- and had Mr. DeLay sign a letter in April 2000 opposing a postal-rate increase. Mr.Abramoffs clients in the magazine-publishing industry opposed the increase.In the plea agreement, Mr. Rudy acknowledged that he had received a long list of gifts fromMr. Abramoffwhile serving on Mr. DeLay's staff, including a trip by private je t to the U.S. Opengolf tournament in Pebble Beach, Calif., in 2000; use of a box suite for a bachelor party at anAugust 2000 Washington Redskins game; tickets to the Daytona 500 in Florida; a trip with hiswife to Hilton Head, S.C.; meals at "expensive restaurants" in Washington; and golf clubs"costing several hundred dollars."Mr. DeLay has acknowledged that he took a series oflavish overseas trips that were arrangedby Mr. Abramoff; Mr. DeLay's wife received more than $100 ,000 in consulting fees between1998 and 2002 from Alexander Strategy Group, the lobbying firm where Mr. Rudy workedmost recently.But the plea agreement signed by Mr. Rudy and made public on Friday does not allege that Mr.DeLay had any knowledge of his former aide's corruption or that he himself had ever acceptedany gifts in exchange for specific acts in Congress."I have no indication that prosecutors are circling in on Mr. DeLay," said Richard Cullen, Mr.DeLay's criminal defense lawyer. Mr. Cullen said he was advised several months ago by theJustice Department that Mr. DeLay was not considered a target ofthe investigation. Thelawyer said he had no reason to believe Mr. DeLay's status had changed."Mr. DeLay was unaware of any of the acts to which Mr. Rudy has pleaded guilty," Mr. Cullensaid. "To say that he's bitterly disappointed is an understatement."

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Aide Pleads Guilty InLobby Case - The New York Times http://query.nytimes.com!gstifullpage.html?res=9903E4D7123

In the summer of 2000, Mr. Rudy said in his plea agreement, he assisted Mr. Abramoff indevising a strategy that killed an otherwise popular bill backed by most House Republicans torestrict gambling on the Internet; at the time, Mr. Abramoff represented an Internet-gamblingcompany, eLottery, that faced collapse if the bill passed.Despite his longstanding opposition to gambling, Mr. DeLay was instrumental, with Mr.Rudy's prompting, in blocking action on the bill. In May 2000, eLottery made a $25,000contribution to a private educational group that underwrote a trip that month by Mr. DeLayand his wife to Britain; Mr. DeLay has said he had no knowledge of the company'scontribution. Mr. Abramoffhas told prosecutors that he steered $50,000 in consulting fees toMs. Rudy as a resul t of her husband's help.Mr. Rudy also acknowledged that, at Mr. Abramoffs behest, he obtained Mr. DeLay's signatureon a letter in early 2000 criticizing plans by the Postal Service to raise its rates; the increasewas strongly opposed by the Magazine Publishers Association, one of Mr. Abramoffs lobbyingclients. Mr. DeLay was among many lawmakers, including Democrats, who opposed the rateincrease, and while the rates were increased the next year, they went up less than originallyplanned.Mr. Rudy's deal with the prosecutors appeared to buttress information provided earlier toprosecutors about Mr. Ney by Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Scanlon. In their earlier plea agreements,Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Scanlon had singled out Mr. Ney as the recipient ofmany of their gifts,including a 2002 golf excursion to the fabled St. Andrews course in Scotland.Mr. Rudy said in his agreement that Mr. Ney, identified as Representative NO.1, agreed inMarch 2001 to support legislation that would have allowed Mr. Abramoffs clients in theNorthern Mariana Islands, a small American territory in the western Pacific, to continue tomake clothing that could be labeled "Made in the U.S.A." even though the islands' migrantAsian garment workers were not protected by federal labor laws and the minimum wage.Human rights groups and labor unions have long described the garment factories as sweatshops.Mr. Rudy's plea agreement refers to the 2002 Scottish golfing trip, with Mr. Rudyacknowledging that he solicited $25,000 from one of Mr. Abramoffs Indian tribe clients tohelp pay for the trip, claiming to thetribe that the money would be used by a charity group.Court documents show that Mr. Rudy invited Mr. Ney on the trip, promising golf and "drinkingand smoking Cubans."Mr. Ney's office did not dispute that he was Representative No. 1. His spokesman, Brian J.Walsh, said in a statement that Mr. Rudy's plea agreement made "clear yet again that JackAbramoff and his subordinates engaged in a collaborative and deliberate strategy to defraud,manipulate and lie in order to advance their own personal greed." Mr. Walsh said Mr. Ney,who is facing a difficult race for re-election in November, remained confident " that he didabsolutely nothing wrong."

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e DeLay-AbramoffMoney Trail

t!l)t Wdfd)ingfun JlO1RThe DeLay-AbramoffMoney TrailNonprofit Group Linked to Lawmaker Was FundedMostly by Clients of LobbyistBy R. Jeffrey SmithWashington Post StaffWriterSaturday, December 3 I, 2005The U.S. Family Network, a public advocacy groupthat operated in the 1990s with close ties to Rep. TomDeLay and claimed to be a nationwide grass-rootsorganization, was funded almost entirely bycorporations linked to embattled lobbyist JackAbramoff, according to tax records and formerassociates of the group.

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During its five-year existence, the U.S. Family Network raised $2.5 million but kept its donor list secret.The list, obtained by The Washington Post, shows that $1 million of its revenue came in a single 1998check from a now-defunct London law firm whose former partners would not identify the money'songms.Two former associates of Edwin A. Buckham, the congressman's former chief of staff and the organizerof the U.S. Family Network, said Buckham told them the funds came from Russian oil and gasexecutives. Abramoff had been working closely with two such Russian energy executives on theirWashington agenda, and the lobbyist and Buckham had helped organize a 1997 Moscow visit by DeLay(R-Tex.).The former president of the U.S. Family Network said Buckham told him that Russians contributed $1million to the group in 1998 specifically to influence DeLay's vote on legislation the InternationalMonetary Fund needed to finance a bailout of the collapsing Russian economy.A spokesman for DeLay, who is fighting in a Texas state court unrelated charges of illegal fundraising,denied that the contributions influenced the former House majority leader's political activities. TheRussian energy executives who worked with Abramoff denied yesterday knowing anything about themillion-dollar London transaction described in tax documents.Whatever the real motive for the contribution of $1 million -- a sum not prohibited by law butextraordinary for a small, nonprofit group -- the steady stream of corporate payments detailed on thedonor list makes it clear that Abramoff's long-standing alliance with DeLay was sealed by a much moreextensive web of financial ties than previously known.Records and interviews also illuminate the mixture of influence and illusion that surrounded the U.S.Family Network. Despite the group's avowed purpose, records show it did little to promote conservativeideas through grass-roots advocacy. The money it raised came from businesses with no demonstratedinterest in the conservative "moral fitness" agenda that was the group's professed aim.

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he DeLay-AbramoffMoney Trail http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dynlcontent!artie le/2005

In addition to the million-dollar payment involving the London law firm, for example, half a milliondollars was donated to the U.S. Family Network by the owners of textile companies in the MarianaIslands in the Pacific, according to the tax records. The textile owners -- with Abramoffs help -- solicitedand received DeLay's public commitment to block legislation that would boost their labor costs,according to Abramoff associates, one of the owners and a DeLay speech in 1997.A quarter of a million dollars was donated over two years by the Mississippi Band ofChoctaw Indians,Abramoffs largest lobbying client, which counted DeLay as an ally in fighting legislation allowing thetaxation of its gambling revenue.The records, other documents and interviews call into question the very purpose of the U.S. FamilyNetwork, which functioned mostly by collecting funds from domestic and foreign businesses whoseinterests coincided with DeLay's activities while he was serving as House majority whip from 1995 to2002, and as majority leader from 2002 until the end of September.After the group was formed in 1996, its director told the Internal Revenue Service that its goal was toadvocate policies favorable for "economic growth and prosperity, social improvement, moral fitness, andthe general well-being of the United States." DeLay, in a 1999 fundraising letter, called the group "apowerful nationwide organization dedicated to restoring our government to citizen control" by mobilizinggrass-roots citizen support.But the records show that the tiny U.S. Family Network, which never had more than one full-time staffmember, spent comparatively little money on public advocacy or education projects. Althoughestablished as a nonprofit organization, it paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees to Buckham andhis lobbying firm, Alexander Strategy Group.There is no evidence DeLay received a direct financial benefit, but Buckham's firm employed DeLay'swife, Christine, and paid her a salary of at least $3,200 each month for three of the years the groupexisted. Richard Cullen, DeLay's attorney, has said that the pay was compensation for lists ChristineDeLay supplied to Buckham of lawmakers' favorite charities, and that it was appropriate under Houserules and election law.Some of the U.S. Family Network's revenue was used to pay for radio ads attacking vulnerableDemocratic lawmakers in 1999; other funds were used to finance the cash purchase of a townhousethree blocks from DeLay's congressional office. DeLay's associates at the time called it "the SafeHouse."DeLay made his own fundraising telephone pitches from the townhouse's second-floor master suiteevery few weeks, according to two former associates. Other rooms in the townhouse were used byAlexander Strategy Group, Buckham's newly formed lobbying firm, and Americans for a RepublicanMajority (ARMPAC), DeLay's leadership committee.They paid modest rent to the U.S. Family Network, which occupied a single small room in the back.'Red Flags' on Tax ReturnsNine months before the June 25,1998, payment of$l million by the London law firm James & SarchCo., as recorded in the tax forms, Buckham and DeLay were the dinner guests in Moscow ofMarinaNevskaya and Alexander Koulakovsky of the oil finn Naftasib, which in promotional literature countedas its principal clients the Ministry ofDefense and the Ministry of Interior.

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Buckham, a graduate of the University of Tennessee, had worked for DeLay since 1995, after serving inother congressional offices and then as executive director of the Republican Study Committee, a groupof fiscally conservative House members.Their other dining companions were Abramoff and Washington lawyer Julius "Jay" Kaplan, whoselobbying firms collected $440,000 in 1997 and 1998 from an obscure Bahamian firm that helpedorganize and indirectly pay for the DeLay trip, in conjunction with the Russians. In disclosure forms, thestated purpose of the lobbying was to promote the policies of the Russian government.Kaplan and British lawyer David Sarch had worked together previously. (Sarch died a month before the$1 million was paid.) Buckham's trip with DeLay was his second to Moscow that year for meetings withNevskaya and Koulakovsky; on the earlier one, the DeLay aide attracted media attention by returningthrough Paris aboard the Concorde, a $5,500 flight.Former Abramoff associates and documents in the hands of federal prosecutors state that Nevskaya andKoulakovsky sought Abramoffs help at the time in securing various favors from the U.S. government,including congressional earmarks or federal grants for their modular-home construction firm nearMoscow and the construction of a fossil-fuel plant in Israel. None appears to have been obtained by theirfirm.Former DeLay employees say Koulakovsky and Nevskaya met with him on multiple occasions. TheRussians also frequently used Abramoffs skyboxes at local sports stadiums -- as did Kaplan, accordingto sources and a 2001 e-mail Abramoffwrote to another client.Three sources familiar with Abramoffs activities on their behalf say that the two Russians -- who knewthe head of the Russian energy giant Gazprom and had invested heavily in that firm -- partly wanted justto be seen with a prominent American politician as a way of bolstering their credibility with the Russiangovernment and their safety on Moscow's streets. The Russian oil and gas business at the time had aWild West character, and its executives worried about extortion and kidnapping threats. The anxieties ofNevskaya and Koulakovsky were not hidden; like many other business people, they traveled in Moscowwith guards armed with machine guns.During the DeLays' visit on Aug. 5 to 11, 1997, the congressman met with Nevskaya and was escortedaround Moscow by Koulakovsky, Naftasib's general manager. DeLay told the House clerk that the trip'ssponsor was the National Center for Public Policy Research, but multiple sources told The Post that hisexpenses were indirectly reimbursed by the Russian-connected Bahamian company.DeLay spokesman Kevin Madden said the principal reason for his Moscow t rip was "to meet withreligious leaders there." Nevskaya, in a letter this spring, said Naftasib's involvement in such trips wasmeant "to foster better understanding between our country and the United States" and denied that thefirm was seeking protection through its U.S. contacts.Nevskaya added in an e-mail yesterday that Naftasib and its officials were not representing the ministriesof defense and interior or any other government agencies "in connection with meetings or other lobbyingactivities in Washington D.C. or Moscow."A former Abramoff associate said the two executives "wanted to contribute to DeLay" and clearly hadthe resources to do it. At one point, Koulakovsky asked during a dinner in Moscow "what would happenif the DeLays woke up one morning" and found a luxury car in their front driveway, the former associatesaid. They were told the DeLays "would go to jail and you would go to jail."

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The tax form states that the $1 million came by check on June 25,1998, from "Nations Corp, James &Sarch co." The Washington Post checked with the listed executives of Texas and Florida firms that havenames similar to Nations Corp, and they said they had no connection to any such payment.James & Sarch Co. was dissolved in May 2000, but two former partners said they recalled hearing thenames of the Russians at their office. Asked if the firm represented them, former partner Philip McGuirkat first said "it may ring a bell," but later he faxed a statement that he could say no more becauseconfidentiality practices prevent him "from disclosing any information regarding the affairs of a client (orformer client)."Nevskaya said in the e-mail yesterday, however, that "neither Naftasib nor the principals you mentionedhave ever been represented by a London law firm that you name as James & Sarch Co." She also saidthat Naftasib and its principals did not pay $1 million to the firm, and denied knowing about thetransaction.Two former Buckham associates said that he told them years ago not only that the $1 million donationwas solicited from Russian oil and gas executives, but also that the initial plan was for the donation to bemade via a delivery of cash to be picked up at a Washington area airport.One of the former associates, a Frederick, Md., pastor named Christopher Geeslin who served as theU.S. Family Network's director or president from 1998 to 2001, said Buckham further told him in 1999that the payment was meant to influence DeLay's vote in 1998 on legislation that helped make it possiblefor the IMF to bailout the faltering Russian economy and the wealthy investors there."Ed told me, 'This is the way things work in Washington,' " Geeslin said. "He said the Russians wanted togive the money first in cash." Buckham, he said, orchestrated all the group's fundraising and spendingand rarely informed the board about the details. Buckham and his attorney, Laura Miller, did not reply torepeated requests for comment on this article.The IMF funding legislation was a contentious issue in 1998. The Russian stock market fell steeply inApril and May, and the government in Moscow announced on June 18 -- just a week before the $1million check was sent by the London law firm -- that it needed $10 billion to $15 billion in newinternational loans.House Republican leaders had expressed opposition through that spring to giving the IMF the money itcould use for new bailouts, decrying what they described as previous destabilizing loans to othercountries. The IMF and its Western funders, meanwhile, were pressing Moscow, as a condition of anyloan, to increase taxes on major domestic oil companies such as Gazprom, which had earlier defaulted onbillions of dollars in tax payments.On Aug. 18, 1998, the Russian government devalued the ruble and defaulted on its treasury bills. ButDeLay, appearing on "Fox News Sunday" on Aug. 30 of that year, criticized the IMF financing bill,calling the replenishment of its funds "unfortunate" because the IMF was wrongly insisting on a Russiantax increase. "They are trying to force Russia to raise taxes at a time when they ought to be cutting taxesin order to get a loan from the IMF. That's just outrageous," DeLay said.In the end, the Russian legislature refused to raise taxes, the IMF agreed to lend the money anyway, andDeLay voted on Sept. 17, 1998, for a foreign aid bill containing new funds to replenish the IMF account.DeLay's spokesman said the lawmaker "makes decisions and sets legislative priorities based on goodpolicy and what is best for his constituents and the country." He added: "Mr. DeLay has very firmbeliefs, and he fights very hard for them."

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Kaplan did not respond to repeated messages, and through a spokesman for lawyer Abbe Lowell,Abramoff declined to comment.No legal bar exists to a $1 million donation by a foreign entity to a group such as the U.S. FamilyNetwork, according to Marcus Owens, a Washington lawyer who directed the IRS's office of tax-exemptorganizations from 1990 to 2000 and who reviewed, at The Post's request, the tax returns filed by theU.S. Family Network.But "a million dollars is a staggering amount ofmoney to come from a foreign source" because such adonor would not be entitled to claim the tax deduction allowed for U.S. citizens, Owens said. "Givinglarge donations to an organization whose purposes are as ambiguous as these . . . is extraordinary. Ihaven't seen that before. It suggests something else is going on."There are any number of red flags on these returns."Hailing Indian Tribe's Hiring of LobbyistsBuckham and Tony Rudy were the first DeLay staff members to visit the Choctaw Reservation nearMeridian, Miss., where the tribe built a 500-room hotel and a 90,000-square-foot gambling casino. Theirtrip from March 25 to 27,1997, cost the Choctaws $3,000, according to statements filed with the Houseclerk.DeLay, his wife and Susan Hirschman -- Buckham's successor in 1998 as chief of staff -- were the nextto go. Their trip from July 31 to Aug. 2, 1998, was described on House disclosure forms as a "site reviewand reservation tour for charitable event," and the forms said it cost the Choctaws $6,935.Buckham, who was then a lobbyist, arranged DeLay's trip, which included a visit to the tribe's golfcourse to assess it as a possible location for the lawmaker's annual charity tournament, according to atribal source. Abramofftold the tribe he could not accompany DeLay because of a prior commitment,the source said.One day after the DeLays departed for Washington, the U.S. Family Network registered an initial$150,000 payment made by the Choctaws, according to its tax return. The tribe made additionalpayments to the group totaling $100,000 on "various" dates the following year, the returns state. TheChoctaws separately paid Abramoff $4.5 million for his lobbying work on their behalf in 1998 and 1999.Abramoffand his wife contributed $22,000 to DeLay's political campaigns from 1997 to 2000, accordingto public records.A former Abramoff associate who is aware of the payments, and who spoke on the condition ofanonymity to protect his clients, said the tribe made contributions to entities associated with DeLaybecause DeLay was crucial to the tribe's continuing fight against legislation to allow the taxation ofIndians' gambling revenue.An attorney for the tribe, Bryant Rogers, said the funds were meant not only to "get the message out"about the adverse tax law proposals but also to finance a campaign by Buckham's group within "theconservative base" against legislation to strip tribes of their control over Indian adoptions. "This was agroup connected to the right-wing Christian movement," Rogers said. "This is Ed Buckham'sconnection. "In March 1999, after the tribe had paid a substantial sum directly to the U.S. Family Network, Buckhamexpressed his general gratitude to Abramoff in an e-mail. "I really appreciate you going to bat for us.

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Remember it is the first bit ofmoney that is always the hardest, but means the most," Buckham said,according to a copy. He added: "Pray for God's wisdom. I really believe this is supposed to be what weare doing to save our team."During this period, a fundraising letter on the U.S. Family Network stationery was sent to residents ofAlabama, announcing a petition drive to promote a cause of interest to Abramoff's Indian gamblingclients inMississippi and Louisiana, including the Choctaw casino that drew many customers fromAlabama: the blocking of a rival casino proposed by the Poarch Creek Indians on their land in Alabama."The American family is under attack from all sides: crime, drugs, pornography, and one of the leasttalked about but equally as destructive -- gambling," said the group's letter, which was signed bythen-Rep. Bob Riley (R), now the Alabama governor. "We need your help today . . . to prevent thePoarch Creek Indians from building casinos in Alabama."Asked about the letter, Rogers said "none of us have seen" it and "the tribe's contributions have nothingto do with it." A spokesman for Riley said that he could not recall the circumstances behind the letter,but that he has long opposed any expansion of gambling in Alabama.DeLay, meanwhile, saluted Choctaw chief Philip Martin in the Congressional Record on Jan. 3,2001,citing"all he has done to further the cause of freedom." DeLay also attached to his remarks an editorialthat hailed the tribe's gambling income and its "hiring [of] quality lobbyists."Throughout this period, the U.S. Family Network was paying a monthly fee of at least $10,000 toBuckham and Alexander Strategy Group for general "consulting," according to a former Buckhamassociate and a copy of the contract. While DeLay's wife drew a monthly salary from the lobbying firm,she did not work at its offices in the townhouse on Capitol Hill, according to former Buckham associates.Neither the House nor the Federal Election Commission bars the payment of corporate funds to spousesthrough consulting firms or political action committees, but the spouses must perform real work forreasonable wages."Anytime you [as a congressman] hire your child or spouse, it raises questions as to whether this is athrowback to the time when people used campaigns and government jobs to enrich their families," saidLarry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan watchdog group,and a former general counsel of the FEC.Research editor Lucy Shackelford,' researchers Alice Crites, Madonna Lebling, Karl Evanzz and MegSmith; and research database editor Derek Willis contributed to this report.View all comments that have been posted about this article.

2005 The Washington Post Company

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Multiple sources, including DeLay's then-chief of staffSusan Hirschmann, have confirmed that DeLay'scongressional office was in direct contact with Preston Gates about the trip itinerary before DeLay'sdeparture, to work out details of his travel. These contacts raise questions about DeLay's statement thathe had no way of knowing about the financial and logistical support provided by Abramoff and his firm.

The documents obtained by The Washington Post, including receipts for his hotel stays in Scotland andLondon and billings for his golfing during the trip at the famed St. Andrews course in Scotland,substantiate for the first time that some ofDeLay's expenses on the trip were billed to charge cards usedby the two lobbyists. The invoice for DeLay's plane fare lists the name of what was then Abramoffslobbying firm, Preston Gates & Ellis.

House ethics rules bar lawmakers from accepting travel and related expenses from registered lobbyists.DeLay, who is now House majority leader, has said that his expenses on this trip were paid by a nonprofitorganization and that the financial arrangements for it were proper. He has also said he had no way ofknowing that any lobbyist might have financially supported the trip, either directly or throughreimbursements to the nonprofit organization.

Yesterday, DeLay's lawyer, Bobby R. Burchfield, said that DeLay's staffwas aware that Preston Gateswas trying to arrange meetings and hotels for the trip but that DeLay was unaware of the "logistics" of billpayments, and that DeLay "continues to understand his expenses" were properly paid by the nonprofitorganization, the National Center for Public Policy Research.

DeLay's expenses during the same trip for food, phone calls and other items at a golfcourse hotel inScotland were billed to a different credit card also used on the trip by a second registered Washingtonlobbyist, Edwin A. Buckham, according to receipts documenting that portion of the trip.

was hingtonpost.comDeLay Airfare Was Charged To Lobbyist's Credit Card

The airfare to London and Scotland in 2000 for then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) wascharged to an American Express card issued to Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist at the center ofafederal criminal and tax probe, according to two sources who know Abramoffs credit card accountnumber and to a copy of a travel invoice displaying that number.

By R. Jeffrey SmithWashington Post StaffWriterSunday, April 24,2005; Page AOl

In 2000, Abramoffwas a board member of the group. In a telephone interview yesterday, Hirschmannsaid the contacts between DeLay's office and persons at Preston Gates occurred because Abramoff "wasa board member of the sponsoring organization." Hirschmann added: "We were assured that the NationalCenter paid for the trip."House rules do not exempt such nonprofit organization board members from the prohibition on lobbyistpayments for travel. They also state that this prohibition "applies even where the lobbyist . . . will later bereimbursed for those expenses by a non-lobbyist client."Burchfield did not dispute that Abramoff used his credi t card to pay for DeLay 's plane fare, but said in astatement that "the majority leader has always believed and continues to believe that all appropriate expenses for the Ll.K. trip werepaid by the National Center for Public Policy Research." He said that "to the extent that Mr. Abramoff put the charges on hispersonal credit card, Mr. DeLay has no knowledge of this. But that would be consistent with Mr. Abramoff obtaining fullreimbursement from the National Center."He said further that, in his view, Abramoffs participation on this trip as a board member meant he was permitted to pay for some ofthe expenses, subject to reimbursement, and that numerous court decisions recognize that different rules may be applicable to thesame person acting in different capacities.Andrew Blum, a publicist for Abramoffs lawyer and spokesman for Abramoff, did not respond to questions relating to the use ofAbramoffs credit card for DeLay's plane fare. But he said in a statement yesterday that it was the National Center that "sponsored"the trip, "not Jack Abramoff."Blum said that DeLay was "one of the center's honored guests on this trip" and that Abramoff "is being singled out for doing what iscommonly done by lobbyists -- taking trips with members of Congress and their staff so that they can learn about issues that impact

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the Congress and government policy." The center's ability to sponsor "this type of educational trip, using contributor funds, is bothlegal and proper," Blum said.DeLay was admonished three times last year by the House ethics committee for infringing rules governing lawmakers' activities andtheir contacts with registered lobbyists. House ethics rules bar the payment by lobbyists for any lawmaker's travel-connectedentertainment and recreational activities costing more than $50; they also require that lawmakers accurately report the sponsor oftheir trips and the full cost.In an art ic le last month about the same trip by DeLay, The Post reported that an Indian tribe and a gambling services companymade donations to the National Center for Public Policy Research that covered most of the expenses declared by participants atthat time. The article also said these payments were made two months before DeLay voted against legislation opposed bythe tribeand the company. DeLay has said the vote was unrelated to the payments.The article also reported that Abramoff submitted an expense voucher to Preston Gates seeking a reimbursement of $12,789.73 tocover expenses for meals, hotels and transportation during the London and Scotland trip incurred by DeLay; his wife, Christine; andhis two aides.The new receipts add more detail about these expenses, make clear that the total expenses for all of the participants were at least$50,000 more than was previously known, and connect Abramoff directly to the payment of some charges.For Del.ay, the 10-day trip began on May 25 with a flight to London from Dulles airport and ended on June 3 with a return tripfrom Europe via Newark and ending in Houston. In between, his itinerary called for stops in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St. Andrews,in Scotland. DeLay said the purpose of the trip was to hold meetings with "Conservative leaders" in Britain and Scotland, includingMargaret Thatcher. The former prime minister's office has confirmed that such a meeting occurred.DeLay's two aides, Tony Rudy and Susan Hirschmann, had an overlapping itinerary; Rudy participated from May 29 to June 3, andHirschmann participated from May 22 to June 2. The spouses of Rudy and Buckham also were present.The travel receipts do not make clear how the expenses for the entire trip -- which involved at least 10 people and which twosources said exceeded $120,000 -- were paid. One source familiar with the billings said yesterday that the National Centerreimbursed Abramofffor the charges incurred by DeLay and his staff that were billed to Abrarnoff's credit card; but the receiptsthemselves do not indicate whether some of the charges incurred by Abramoff were ultimately reimbursed and, if so, by whom.The receipts make clear that flights for DeLay and his wife were initially billed to Abramoff. The plane ticket for the husband ofone of DeLay's aides -- David Hirschmann -- was billed to the same American Express card used for the DeLay tickets, accordingto a copy of the invoice.Although Amy Ridenour, director of the National Center for Public Policy Research, has said she organized the trip, two othersources said that DeLay's round-trip business-class tickets on Continental Airlines and British Airways were booked by PrestonGates employees.The itinerary and invoice for DeLay's trip, prepared by a travel service in Seattle, was sent by the service to Preston Gates on May23, 2000, according to a copy of the invoice. That was two days before DeLay's departure. The invoice states that DeLay'sbusiness-class tickets on Continental Airlines and British Airways cost $6,938.70.The records also indicate that the expenses associated with DeLay exceeded those that he declared in a signed statement to theHouse clerk on June 30, 2000. That form listed the purpose of the trip as "educational" and gave a tally of $28, 106 in expenses forDeLay and his wife, or an average of $2,800 a day; it s tat ed tha t all of these charges were paid by the National Center for PublicPolicy Research, which provided the data to DeLay.Receipts from the golfing portion of the trip show that DeLay accumulated additional charges, which, according to fees set by thetour arranger, amounted to nearly $5,000 for each golfer and totaled in the tens of thousands of dollars for the entire group. Feesassociated with playing golf are not listed on DeLay's travel disclosure form. Burchfield, DeLay's lawyer, said DeLay "personallypaid for two rounds of golf and understands that the other two rounds of golf he played were included in his hotel package" andreimbursed by the National Center.A copy of the $184 bill for the DeLays' expenses dur ingthe trip at a separate hotel in St. Andrews -- the Old Course Hotel GolfResor t & Spa -- s ta tes that those charges were paid by the same American Express credit card used on the trip by Buckham, thelobbyist , to pay for his own hotel room at the Glasgow Hilton. Buckham could not be reached by phone at home or his office anddid not respond to an e-mailed request for comment. Burchfield said he cannot explain how this happened and did not know whoowned this credit card; he also said DeLay was unaware of this fact.Buckham, a former chief of staff to DeLay, was at the time a registered lobbyist for AT&T, Enron Corp., and the Nuclear EnergyInstitute. DeLay's wife was employed, at the t ime of the trip, by Buckham's lobbying firm, th e Alexander Strategy Group, and was

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receiving a salary from it, according to DeLay's personal financial disclosure statement for that year, on file with the House clerk.Abramoff, at the time of the trip, represented eLottery Inc. , a gambling services company that opposed the Internet gambling billpending before the House. Preston Gates registered as a lobbyist for eLottery on June 2, 2000, one day before the trip ended; laterin the year, Abramoff registered as a lobbyist for other clients who opposed the bill, including several Indian tribes. The federalprobe is looking into his handling of his tribal clients and the large fees he was paid.Hirschmann and her husband ultimately accumulated charges of 2,073 British pounds, or about $3,109 at the prevailing exchangerate for four nights in their "superior" room at the London Four Seasons Hotel. Those charges included $129 at the hotel lounge,$75 from the room bar, $34 from the gift shop, and $422 for chauffeured cars, according to a copy of their hotel bill. Hirschmannsaid one car was used to reach the meeting with Thatcher.At least one of the Hirschmanns also played golf at St. Andrews. Susan Hirschmann is now a lobbyist at the Washington firm ofWilliams & Jensen; the finn's Web site contains a published claim that DeLay and other House Republican leaders are in frequentcontact with her. As a staffmember at the time of the trip, she would have been covered by the same ethics rules that apply toDeLay and other House members. Rudy, her staff colleague at the time, now works for Buckham's lobbying firm.DeLay and his wife, for their part, stayed for four nights in a "conservatory" room at the same hotel in London as Hirschmann,accumulating charges of roughly $790 a night for rooms that included a glass-enclosed porch overlooking London's Park Lane,according to a copy of the bill for the ir stay and the Web site of the hotel.They also ran up hotel charges of$145 for room service, $13 for a valet pressing and $302 for a private car from Heathrow airport ,the billstates. Their room bill also lists a charge of $434 for six theater tickets, but Burchfield said the DeLays do not recallattending any plays in London. He said if the hotel charges were being "picked up" by a representat ive of the National Center,"they would not necessarily have seen the hotel bill."DeLay, Burchfield said, "does not know how the logistics . . . [of the bill payments for the trip] were being effectuated."House ethics rules contain detailed provisions barring the acceptance of any travel funds from private sources if doing so would"create the appearance of using public office for private gain." They also obligate lawmakers to "make inquiry on the source of thefunds that will be used to pay" for any travel ostensibly financed by a nonprofit organizat ion -- to rule out the acceptance ofreimbursements that come from one organization when a trip is "in fact organized and conducted by someone else."Trips outside the United States are also not supposed to exceed a week in length out of concern, the rules state, for "the publicperception that such trips often may amount to paid vacat ions for the Member and his family at the expense of special interestgroups." Research editor Lucy Shackelford and researchers Alice Crites and Madonna Lebling contributed to this report.


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Choctaws. The bill was supported by 165 Republicans and 79 Democrats but fell about 25 votes short of passage; because of aparliamentary maneuver, it required a two-thirds majority vote.DeLay spokesman Allen said that DeLay voted against the bill because it had exemptions for jai alai and horse and dog racing.Rudy later that year went to work for Abramoff as a lobbyist.The Choctaw Indians run a highly profitable casino near Philadelphia, Miss., that bankrolls their community activities and hassubsidized an extensive lobbying effort in Washington. The tribe donated a total of$65,000 to Ridenour's group in 2000 and $1.07million in 2002.The Choctaw money was intended to help the center create a program to build support for the idea that Indian casinos could driveprosperity for poor tribes, Ridenour said. "We were trying to tell the Choctaw story," she said. On its Web site, the center attributesthe following statement to DeLay: "The National Center is The Center for conservative communications."Asked about the DeLay trip to Britain, tribal lawyer Bryant Rogers said: "The tribe did not authorize the use of any money for thispurpose. . . . If it occurred, it occurred without the tribe's knowledge."ELottery isa Connecticut company that provides Internet services to state lotteries. One version of the gambling legislationcontained a provision that would have severely restricted state lottery sales over the Internet. Edwin 1. McGuinn, president of eLotInc., the parent of eLottery, said the provision would have killed his company. "We wouldn' t have been able to operate," he said.McGuinn said he was unaware that eLottery's $25,000 check was meant to pay for DeLay's trip. Of the donation to the NationalCenter, he said: "I t certainly was our impression that any and all moneys were being positioned to get the attention and focus of ourcause."DeLay today describes himself as a longtime opponent of any expansion of gambling. But in a House floor speech six months afterhis trip to Britain, he praised the head of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians as a "champion of peace and prosperity" andplaced in the Congressional Record an editorial praising chief Phillip Martin for enriching the tribe through the "construction of acasino."The editorial, from the magazine Indian Country Today, noted that Martin had also wisely positioned his tribe "to solidifyfriendships with Republican powerhouses." It said -- in an apparent reference to Abramoff -- that the t ribe and its chief had hired"quality lobbyists as their new wealth allowed" and successfully persuaded Republican leaders tha t the tribal revenue fromgambling and other ventures should not be taxed.Three and a halfweeks after DeLay's Jan. 3, 200 I, speech saluting Martin "for all he has done to further the cause of freedom," atleast one ofDeLay's aides went on a trip via private je t to the Super Bowl in Tampa arranged and financed by one of Abramoff'scompanies. Sources familiar with the trip said the guests were also taken out to an Abramoff-owned gambling ship that wasanchored near Tampa.No one on DeLay's staff filed a report disclosing the trip, a task required by House rules for "the receipt of travel expenses fromprivate sources" but not for government-funded or political travel.DeLay spokesman Allen said: "The staffer went down to participate in a National Republican Congressional Committee party, so itwas considered political travel. The staffer never saw Abramoffduring the trip."The Internet gambling legislation was the only issue Abramoff and his employer at the time, Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas MeedsLLP, mentioned in lobbying disclosure records when they reported earning $440,000 in fees from eLottery in 2000. The Internetgambling bill was one of several legislative issues listed in a separate lobbying disclosure for the firm's efforts on behalf of theChoctaw, which paid Preston Gates $880,000 in 2000.Expense Voucher Submitted

The trip to Britain by the DeLays previously attracted notice because Abramoff submitted an expense voucher to Preston Gatesseeking a reimbursement of $12,789.73 to cover expenses for meals, hotels and transportation incurred by the DeLays, theHirschmanns and a former DeLay chief of staff -- lobbyist Ed Buckham -- who also went on the trip.House ethics rules prohibit registered lobbyists such as Abramofffrom paying for a lawmaker's expenses. But the Preston Gatesrecords state that Abramoff told his firm he paid $4,285.35 for the DeLays' stay at London's Four Seasons Hotel, plus $5,174.64 forthe Hirschmanns' stay. He also reported spending $800 on transportation for the group between May 25 and May 29.The existence of the voucher and a portion of its contents were reported last month in the National Journal. The voucher's tally ofexpenses differs from the account given by DeLay in a signed repor t to the House clerk on June 30, 2000, in which he reported that

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total lodging for the couple over nine nights cost Ridenour's group $3,840. Susan Hirschmann's separate, signed report also gave adifferent figure from Abramoff; she stated that lodging expenses for her husband and her for this period amounted to $3,360.Both the DeLays and the Hirschmanns reported their meal expenses during the trip as $2,000 per person, or roughly $200 a day.Last week, DeLay told reporters that he had reported the trip "as we are supposed to do." He said that, to his knowledge, theNational Center "paid for the trip."DeLay told Cox News Service earlier this month: "I went to London to meet with conservatives in England and Scotland and talkabout the things we had been doing in the Republican, conservative House. They wanted to dialogue to see if they could adoptsome the things tha t we had done."A person who went on the trip but spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the controversy said that DeLay talked withThatcher about her e ffor ts to help end the Cold War and with others about trade issues. An aide to Thatcher confirmed that themeeting occurred.Abramoff was a member of the board of the National Center from about 1997 until last October, when the cente r accepted hisresignation.Stanley Brand, a former Democratic counsel to the House and an ethics specialist, said arrangements in which funds are passedthrough an intermediary to pay for a lawmaker's travels breach ethics rules if the lawmaker who benefited "knew or should haveknown" the origin of funds.Brand said the House ethics committee, if it opens an investigation, would have to decide whether the circumstances of the travel"should have put a reasonable person on not ice that it was paid for by someone else."Researchers Alice Crites, Lucy Shackelford and Don Pohlman contributed to this report.


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makers Under Scrutiny in Probe ofLobbyist

1 ttl,, 'f :+ t ', I''J" 't ''... I .. "" ... ' .'.' , '" ", ,"'"Jc ... a,fl )ltlgt en 1 (IDcLawmakers Under Scrutiny inProbe ofLobbyistNey and DeLay Among the Members of Congress Saidto Be a Focus ofAbramoff InvestigationBy Susan Schmidt and James V. GrimaldiWashington Post StaffWritersSaturday, November 26, 2005The Justice Department's wide-ranging investigation offormer lobbyist Jack Abramoffhas entered a highlyactive phase as prosecutors are beginning to move onevidence pointing to possible corruption in Congressand executive branch agencies, lawyers involved in thecase said.

http://www.washingtonpost.comlwp-dyn/content/article/2005/

Prosecutors have already told one lawmaker, Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), and his former chief ofstaff that they are preparing a possible bribery case against them, according to two sourcesknowledgeable about the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.The 35 to 40 investigators and prosecutors on the Abramoff case are focused on at least half a dozenmembers ofCongress, lawyers and others close to the probe said. The investigators are looking atpayments made by Abramoff and his colleagues to the wives of some lawmakers and at actions taken bysenior Capitol Hill aides, some ofwhom went to work for Abramoff at the law firm Greenberg TraurigLLP, lawyers and others familiar with the probe said.Former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R), now facing separate campaign finance charges in hishome state of Texas, is one of the members under scrutiny, the sources said. Sen. Conrad Burns(R-Mont.), Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.) and other members ofCongress involved with Indian affairs,one ofAbramoffs key areas of interest, are also said to be among them.Prosecutions and plea deals have become more likely, the lawyers said, now that Abramoffs formerpartner -- public relations executive Michael Scanlon -- has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and totestify about gifts that he and his K Street colleagues showered on lawmakers, allegedly in exchange forofficial favors.An attorney for DeLay, whose wife worked for a lobbying firm that received client referrals fromAbramoff, said there was no connection between her work and congressional business. A spokesman forDoolittle, whose wife received payments from Abramoffs lobbying firm, also said there was noconnection with her husband's position. Burns's office has said his actions were consistent with hissupport for improving conditions for Indian tribes.Ney is the congressman whose name has surfaced most prominently in the Abramoff investigation. Hisspokesman and attorney have said for weeks that Ney has not been told he is a target of the inquiry,even while acknowledging that his office has received a grand jury subpoena and that his activities werementioned in Scanlon's plea agreement.

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But the sources said that during the third week ofOctober prosecutors told Ney and his former chief ofstaff, Neil Volz, that they were preparing a bribery case based in part on activities that occurred inOctober 2000. Abramoff and another business partner, Adam Kidan, were also told that they are targetsin that case, the sources said.The five-year statute of limitations for filing charges based on those events expired last month; theprosecutors sought and received a waiver of the deadline from all four men while they continue theirinvestigation, the sources said. Prosecutors are often able to obtain such waivers by givingthe targets achoice of being indicted right away or granting more time to see if information might surface thatexonerates them.Ney's attorney, Mark H. Tuohey, did not return calls seeking comment on the waiver. Ney spokesmanBrian Walsh said the office had no comment, as did a lawyer for Volz.The attorneys of Abramoff and Kidan did not return calls seeking comment.The events in 2000 that interest investigators are connected to the purchase by Abramoff and Kidan ofSunCruz Casinos, owner of a fleet of Florida gambling boats. Ney twice placed comments in theCongressional Record about SunCruz, first criticizing its former owner when Abramoff and Kidan werein difficult purchase negotiations and then, in October, praising Kidan's new management. Abramoff andKidan are facing trial in January on charges of defrauding lenders in their purchase of the casino boats.The statute of limitations may also soon run out on a 2001 Super Bowl trip sponsored by SunCruz thatsources said investigators have reviewed. The Washington Post reported earlier this year that aides toBurns and DeLay were ferried to Tampa on a SunCruz corporate jet arranged by Abramoff. Ney and hissons were invited to the 2001 Super Bowl outing, former Abramoff associates said, but did not go.The Hill aides were treated to the game and a night of gambling on a Sun Cruz ship. They were offered$500 in gambling chips, sources knowledgeable about the trip said.The Post has reported that Burns, who received $137,000 in contributions from Abramoff lobbyists andtheir tribal clients, obtained a controversial $3 million school construction grant for one of Abramoffswealthy tribal clients after pressuring the Bureau of Indian Affairs.Investigators are also gathering information about Abramoffs hiring of several congressional wives,sources said, as well as his referral of clients to Alexander Strategy Group, a lobbying and consultingfirm run by former senior aides to DeLay. Financial disclosure forms show that the firm employedDeLay's wife, Christine, from 1998 to 2002.Former Abramoff lobbying associates have said that Abramoff shared some of his high-paying clientswith the group, including Malaysian interests, the Mississippi Choctaw Indian tribe and online gamblingfirms. Federal investigators have questioned some former Abramoff associates about whether thosereferrals were related to Christine DeLay's employment there, sources said.Alexander Strategy Group is run by former DeLay senior staffers Edwin A. Buckham and Tony C.Rudy. Rudy served as DeLay's deputy chiefof staff until 2001, when he took ajob with Abramoff, andlater moved on to join Buckham.Investigators are looking into whether Rudy aided Abramoffs lobbying clients while he was workingonthe Hill, the sources said, and are reviewing payments from Abramoff clients and associates to LibertyConsulting, a political firm founded by Rudy's wife, Lisa. The Washington Post reported last month that

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Rudy, while on DeLay's staff, helped scuttle a bill opposed by eLottery Inc., an Abramoff client, andthat Abramoff had eLottery pay a foundation to hire Liberty Consulting.Richard Cullen, an attorney for the DeLays, said Christine DeLay was hired by Buckham, an old familyfriend, to determine the favorite charity of every member ofCongress. She was paid $3,200 to $3,400 amonth for three years, or about $115,000 total, he said."It wasn't like she did this 9 to 5, but it was an ongoing project," Cullen said. He said Christine DeLay'swork was commensurate with the project and had nothing to do with her husband or any officialcongressional business. "This was something that she found to be very interesting, very challenging andvery worthwhile," Cullen said.Rudy and Buckham and their attorneys did not return calls seeking comment.Abramoff's connections to Doolittle are also of interest to investigators, sources said. Doolittle's formerchief of staff, Kevin A. Ring, went to work with Abramoff. Doolittle's wife, Julie, owned a consultingfirm that was hired by Abramoff and his firm, Greenberg Traurig, to do fundraising for a charity hefounded. Two sources close to the investigation said that Ring, while working for Abramoff, was anintermediary in the hiring of Julie Doolittle's firm, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions Inc., which lastyear received a subpoena from the grand jury investigating Abramoff.Julie Doolittle's attorney, William L. Stauffer Jr., said Sierra Dominion Financial was hired by GreenbergTraurig to provide "event planning, marketing and related services, as requested byMr.Abramoff" forAbramoffs Capital Athletic Foundation and his Signatures restaurant. Sierra Dominion received amonthly retainer from Greenberg Traurig from January 2003 until February 2004, at a rate similar to thatpaid by other Sierra Dominion clients, Stauffer said.Abramoff frequently used the athletic foundation as a pass-through organization to run lobbying effortsand to pay for expenses, records show. Julie Doolittle was hired to put on a fundraiser for the foundationat the International Spy Museum, but the event was canceled because it had been scheduled to takeplace just at the Iraq war was commencing, Stauffer said."Sierra Dominion primarily performed public relations and other event planning services for the SpyMuseum event," Stauffer said in an e-mail reply to questions. "This included responding to all individualscalling the Capital Athletic Foundation concerning the Spy Museum event, identifying (and contacting)possible attendees for the event, and assisting in fund raising strategy and letters."Doolittle's office denied any connection between the firm's work and official acts."In no way did Sierra Dominion's business services work for Greenberg Traurig have any relationship toCongressman Doolittle's official duties as a member of the House ofRepresentatives," said Doolittlespokeswoman Laura Blackmann."Congressman Doolittle has never received a subpoena regarding this matter, nor has he ever beencontacted by the Justice Department to provide information or be questioned," she said.The Justice Department investigation is also looking into Abramoff's influence among executive branchofficials. Sources said prosecutors are continuing to seek information about Abramoffs dealings withthen-Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles, including a job offer from the lobbyist at a time when hewas seeking department actions on behalfof his tribal clients.

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The former top procurement official in the Bush administration, David H. Safavian, has already beencharged with lying and obstruction of justice in connection with the Abramoff investigation. Safavian,who traveled to Scotland with Ney on a golf outing arranged by Abramoff, is accused of concealing fromfederal investigators that Abramoffwas seeking to do business with the General Services Administrationat the time of the golftrip. Safavian was then GSA chief of staff.

View all comments that have been posted about this article. 2005 The Washington Post Company

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Cases Highlight Prime Targets' Family Ties - The New York. .. http://query.nytimes.comlgstlfullpage.html ?res=9AODE3DE I

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This copy is for your personal. noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for distribution toyour colleagues, clients or customers, please click here or use the "Reprints" tool that appears next to any article.Visit www.nytreprints.corn for samples and additional information, Order a reprint of this article now.

5

April 9, 2006Lobbying Cases Highlight Prime Targets' FamilyTiesBy PHILIPSHENON

On Dec. 3, 2003, Aeneas Enterprises opened for business in the Woodland Hills neighborhoodof Los Angeles, and judging by its bank records, the small consulting company with no listedtelephone number was an instant success. Within a month, its records show, Aeneas had takenin $2.3 million from a single client.Aeneas is under scrutiny by the Justice Department and Congressional investigators. Itsfounder, Robert Abramoff, a lawyer and sometime Hollywood movie producer, is the brother ofJack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist at the center of a Washington influence-peddlingscandal involving several members of Congress.The company's records show that the $2.3 million was received from another consulting firm,GrassRoots Interactive of Silver Spring, Md., which was established by Jack Abramoff andwhere he directed some of his huge lobbying fees. Billing statements prepared by Aeneas donot show what service Robert Abramoff provided to warrant millions of dollars in paymentsfrom his brother's company.Robert Abramoff did not return phone calls for comment.His apparent entanglement in his brother's business is an example of what investigators say issomething remarkable about the criminal inquiry centered on Jack Abramoff and hisWashington lobbying network: the degree to which the spouses and other family members ofthe investigation's central targets are being caught up in it. Some have dealt with subpoenasand interviews with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with at least the possibility of facingcivil or criminal charges.Lawyers with detailed knowledge ofthe Justice Department's investigation, who were grantedanonymity because of rules barring public discussion of grand jury evidence, say that so manyof the wives oflawmakers and lobbyists have become tied up in the investigation that F.B.I.agents have begun referring to them as "The Wives Club."At least one of the wives, Julie Doolittle, who is married to Representative John T. Doolittle,Republican of California, has been subpoenaed in the investigation of Mr. Abramoff and

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questioned by the F.B.I. The June 2004 subpoena sought information about Mrs. Doolittle'smarketing and events-planning work for Mr. Abramoffs lobbying firm and for his Washingtonrestaurant, Signatures, which he later sold. Her lawyer, William L. Stauffer, said Mrs. Doolittlewas contacted by the Justice Department again last year and asked for additional records.Mr. Stauffer said that Mrs. Doolittle's consulting firm, Sierra Dominion Financial Solutions,has "complied fully with the subpoena."Lisa Rudy, who is married to Tony Rudy, the former deputy chief of staff to Representative TomDeLay, Republican of Texas, received $50 ,000 in consulting fees as a result of what herhusband has acknowledged was a corrupt scheme with Mr. Abramoffto influence the workingsofMr. DeLay's office and promote the concerns of Mr. Abramoffs clients on Capitol Hill.Mr. Rudy pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges last month. The Justice Department hassaid that Mrs. Rudy has agreed to cooperatewith the investigation and will sign her ownagreement with prosecutors. The Rudy family's lawyer, Laura A. Miller, did not return phonecalls for comment.Christine A. DeLay, Mr. DeLay's wife, received $115,000 in consulting fees from 1998 to 2002from a lobbying firm set up by her husband's former chief of staff, Edwin A. Buckharn, who isalso under scrutiny by the Justice Department because of his lobbying contacts with Mr.DeLay's House office.Although there is no suggestion of any criminal investigation focused on Mrs. DeLay, lawyersinvolved in the investigation say prosecutors have asked about the circumstances of her hiringby Mr. Buckham and whether it was an effort to influence Mr. DeLay, the former Housemajority leader. Mr. DeLay announced this week that he was resigning from Congress, sayinghe wanted to avoid an "ugly" re-election fight this fall that might focus on ethical issues.A lawyer for the DeLays, Richard Cullen, said Mrs. DeLay had been employed by Mr.Buckharn's firm, the Alexander Strategy Group, to gather information on the favorite charitiesof members of Congress. "Christine DeLay is a very talented woman with a keen political mind,and the project she was working on was one tha t had substance and added value toAlexander," he said.The phone records of the couple's daughter, Dani DeLay Ferro, a political organizer for herfather, were formally requested last year by a grand jury in Travis County, Tex., where Mr.DeLay is under indictment, accused of violating his home state's election laws.Mr. Buckharn's wife, Wendy, shared more than $1 million in consulting fees with her husbandfrom the U.S. Family Network, a nonprofit group tied to Mr. DeLay. The group has drawn thescrutiny of law enforcement officials because so much of its income was directed to theBuckham family and appears to have come from Russian businessmen eager to court favorfrom Mr. DeLay. The Buckhams did no t return phone calls seeking comment.

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Jack Abramoffs wife, Pamela, was tied to at least some of her husband's activities that he hasnow acknowledged were crimes.Although there is no suggestion by the Justice Department that Mrs. Abramoffwas aware ofher husband's criminal acts, she and her husband were the sole directors of a nonprofit group,the Capital Athletic Foundation, which Mr. Abramoffused illegally to channel millions ofdollars from his clients to pet projects that had nothing to with the charity's supposed mission:sports programs for needy children.Most of the charity's money was spent to underwrite a Jewish school in Maryland that wasfounded by Mr. Abramoff and where the couple educated two of their sons. The foundation alsounderwrote a 2002 trip to Britain for Representative Bob Ney, an Ohio Republican who isunder investigation by the Justice Department for gifts he received from Mr. Abramoff. Mr. Neyhas denied wrongdoing, saying he was duped by Mr. Abramoff about the financing of the$150,000 trip, which included rounds of golf at the fabled course at St. Andrews in Scotland.There are also references to Mrs. Abramoffs activities in the indictment of a former seniorWhite House budget official, David F. Safavian. The Justice Department has accused Mr.Safavian oflying about his ties to Mr. Abramoff, who sought Mr. Safavian's help in trying tobuy government land for himself and clients. Mr. Abramoff has acknowledged that he sent hiswife to inspect the properties, instructing her not to reveal her real name to governmentofficials to avoid scrutiny.A spokesman for Mr. Abramoffs defense team, Andrew Blum, had no comment when askedwhether Mrs. Abramoffhad obtained separate counsel in the investigation. Mr. Blum alsowould not comment on Mr. Abramoffs involvement with GrassRoots Interactive, the Marylandconsulting firm, and the lobbyist's business ties to his brother Robert.The Abramoffbrothers have been in business together for years. They co-wrote -- and JackAbramoffproduced -- a poorly reviewed 1989 action movie called "Red Scorpion."State business records in California show that Robert Abramoff is a director or registered agentfor almost 100 companies, many of them with colorful names, including FilmSoup, andMake-Up Your Mind Inc.He is also the registered agent for Nicole Richie Inc., an umbrella company for the businessactivities of th e young Hollywood celebrity. Ms. Richie's spokeswoman, Cindy Guagenti, saidthat Mr. Abramoff had been hired to deal with the logistics of the company's incorporation. Shesaid Ms. Richie "has never met him."Robert Abramoff appears tohave been drawn into his brother's Washington lobbying networkthrough Aeneas Enterprises, which shared its offices and phone number with RobertAbramoffs law office.Documents gathered from Jack Abramoffs files by government investigators and provided to

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The NewYorkTimes show that Robert Abramoffsent an e-mail message to his brother'saccountant on Dec. 19 , 2000 -- 16 days after Aeneas was incorporated -- that providedinstructions on wiring money to Aeneas's bank account.An Aeneas billing statement sent later that month to GrassRoots Interactive shows that $1.4million was received from GrassRoots on Dec. 26. A January statement shows that anadditional $900 ,000 was received by Aeneas on Jan. 2, 2004.The one-page statements make no reference to what service, if any, was performed by RobertAbramoffs company in exchange for the payments, nor do they indicate howAeneas disbursedthe money.Chart/Photos: "A FamilyAffair"Spouses and other family members have become integral parts of the Justice Department'sinvestigation of Jack Abramoff and his Washington lobbying network. A look at how familymembers are tied to the scandal, based on indictments and other records collected from theinvestigation.JACK ABRAMOFFAND HIS FAMILYJackAbramoffPleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials.

Robert Abramoff (family member)BrotherFounded a consulting firm that shares offices and phone number with his law office inCalifornia. His firm received $2.3 million from one of his brother's companies for services notspecified in billing statements.Pam Abramoff (familymember)WifeCo-director of a nonprofit group used by her husband to illegally channel money from hislobbying clients to other projects.Inspected goverment properties for her husband and his clients without revealing her identityto officials to avoid scrutiny.LAWMAKERS AND THEIR WIVESJulie Doolittle (familymember)Did marketing and eventsplanning work for Mr. Abramoff.Representative John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.)

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Received campaign contributions from Mr. Abramoff and his associates.Representative Tom DeLay (R-Tex.)Formerly employed Mr. Buckham and Mr. RudyHas received campaign contributions from Mr. Abramoff, who has reportedly financed some ofMr. DeLay's overseas trips.Christine DeLay (family member)Received $115,000 in consulting fees from Alexander Strategy over a four-year period.LOBBYISTS AT THE ALEXANDER STRATEGYGROUP AND THEIR WIVESEdwin A. BuckharnUnder scrutiny by the Justice Department for his lobbying contacts with Representative TomDeLay's House office.Tony RudyPleaded guilty to charges that he accepted illegal donations and gifts from Mr. Abramoff inreturn for influencing legislation and the workings of Mr. DeLay's office.Wendy Buckham (family member)Shared more than $1 million in consulting fees with her husband from the U.S. FamilyNetwork, a nonprofit group with ties to Mr. DeLay. The fees appear to come from Mr.Abramoffs clients.Lisa Rudy (family member)Received consulting fees from Mr. Abramoff, as part of illegal gifts to her husband.

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As lobbying scandal drags on, Delay takes a shotat FBIEx-congressman blasts Justice as 'running amok' in the AbramoffcaseByMICHAEL HEDGES Copyright2007 HoustonChronicleWashington BureauMay 9, 2007, 10:10PM

WASHINGTON - Tom DeLay is lashing out at federal prosecutorsprobing his ties with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, challengingDigg them to charge him with a crime or drop their lengthy investigation.Yahoo! Buzz " It isa Justice Department that isrunning amok," the former Sugar

land lawmaker said to The Hill, a publication covering Congress,q StumbloUpon "Fish or cut bait. Do something."DeLay, the former House majority leader who resigned his seat in8ethefirst ofyourfriends to Congress last year after being charged inTexas inan unrelatedrecommend this. case, has not been accused of wrongdoing in the Abramoffinvestigation.But one former GOP member of Congress, Bob Ney of Ohio, andtwo former top aides of DeLay's have pleaded guilty to corruptionin the Wide-ranging grand jury investigation into efforts by Abramoffto gain illegal advantages for his clients in exchange for bribes.

Abramoff has pleaded guilty to corruption charges and is cooperating with investigators.The inquiry into DeLay's actions has focused on payments to his wife, Christine, by two organizations controlledby former Delay chief of staff Edwin Buckham.After leaving DeLay's staff, Buckham ran a lobbying firm called Alexander Strategy Group that paid her about$115,000 between 1998 and 2002.Christine DeLay and DeLay's daughter, Dani Ferro, were also paid consulting fees and expenses totalling about$350,000 by DeLay's political action committee, ARMPAC, which was also managed by Buckham.Delay's lawyer, Richard Cullen, said the payments were for legitimate work."Clearly the Justice Department is conducting a very thorough investigation into all aspects of Mrs. DeLay'semployment," Cullen said. "We have given them documents that demonstrate clearly that she was an integral parto f Tom DeLay's poli tical operat ion, and that she earned every penny - probably more - than shewas paid."The FBI and the Justice Department declined to discuss the ongoing Abramoff investigation Wednesday.FBI director Robert Mueller, meeting with Washington journalists Wednesday, sidestepped a question on theDeLay probe.But hesaid, "Public corruption has been our No. 1 priority on the criminal side.... We've almost doubled thenumber of convictions in the last year that we had in 2000-2001. We have additional resources addressing publiccorruption (and) I'm comfortable we've taken the steps that are appropriate,"Delay had not voiced frustration or anger at federal investigators before.But hehasbeen open with his contempt for Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who obtained acampaign money laundering indictment of DeLay. The former congressman has called the charges a thinly veiledpolitical attack by a Democratic prosecutor.Cullensaid DeLay's remarks Tuesday are a spillover from his aggravation at the Texas case."I think the frustration is consistent with somebody who believes passionately that he has done nothing wrong,"Cullensaid. "Tom DeLay wants the investigation to be over. That is a very human response."[email protected]

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bpoena list in DeLay case reads like a who's who of political, busine... http://www.statesman.comlnews/texas-politics/subpoena-Iis t-i

FOIA Request (Exhibits): CREW: Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation...

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Transcript of FOIA Request (Exhibits): CREW: Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation...