Abramoff pleads guilty to fraud

[GambleFish]

Read the whole article here.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/01/...lea/index.html

Heads in the House and the Senate are gonna roll... depending on Abramoff's cooperation, this could result in some major political figures being indicted of fraud and conspiracy.

In addition, Abramoff pleaded guilty to Florida fraud charges... Unbelievable.



UPDATE 1-Washington lobbyist pleads guilty to Florida fraud
Wed Jan 4, 2006 2:27 PM ET

By Jane Sutton

MIAMI, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty on Wednesday to defrauding lenders in a Florida casino- ship deal and agreed to help prosecutors in a Washington influence-peddling probe that could involve top Republican lawmakers.

Federal prosecutors used the Florida charges to pressure Abramoff to cooperate in their investigation into whether Washington lawmakers gave his clients favorable treatment in exchange for campaign contributions and illegal gifts.

The Miami plea comes a day after Abramoff pleaded guilty to other fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion charges in Washington on Tuesday. His sentence in both sets of charges will be based in part on his cooperation with prosecutors in the corruption case.

The long-expected pleas will give prosecutors valuable ammunition as they seek to prove that former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio and other top lawmakers gave Abramoff and his lobbying clients favorable treatment in return for campaign contributions, Super Bowl tickets and other gifts.

In Miami, Abramoff pleaded guilty in Miami to conspiracy and fraud charges and acknowledged he faked documents used to get a $60 million loan to buy the SunCruz fleet of gambling ships in 2000.

Abramoff was allowed to go free on bond and sentencing was scheduled for March 16.

Four other charges were dropped under a plea agreement that calls for him to serve six or seven years in prison, rather than the maximum of 30 he had initially faced if convicted.

Abramoff spoke briefly during the hearing in Miami, answering "Yes, your honor" and "yes, sir" to questions from U.S. District Judge Paul Huck. He did not make any type of apology.

He said he understood when Huck told him: "You might receive a sentence that might be harsher or greater than you've anticipated."

Asked how he pleaded, Abramoff said "Guilty, your honor."

Abramoff pleaded guilty to other fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion charges in Washington on Tuesday. His sentence in both sets of charges will be based in part on his cooperation with prosecutors in the corruption case.

The long-expected pleas will give prosecutors valuable ammunition as they seek to prove that former House of Representatives Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio and other top lawmakers gave Abramoff and his lobbying clients favorable treatment in return for campaign contributions, Super Bowl tickets and other gifts.

The man who sold the SunCruz ships to Abramoff, Gus Boulis, was shot dead in an ambush on a Ft. Lauderdale, Florida street in February 2001. Three men were charged last year in the killing.

[GambleFish]

Also part of the Florida confession today, possiblities exist for the indiction of Abramoff's partener in relation to the death of Gus Boulis, stated in the end of the first post. He was gunned down, mob style, in his BMW in Ft. Lauderdale. He might have ordered something or had connections with Gus's killers... or it could be a massive coincidence.... conspiracy, conspiracy. Someone's gonna burn in Washington... probably more than one somebody. Read both articles.

[Big War Bird]

Many big name demonrats have connections to Abramoff too, including Senators Harry Ried and Byron Dorgan.

[GeneralLee]

Anyone see the today show report on this?

[GambleFish]

Anyone see the today show report on this?

News Hour ran a pretty good segment both teusday and wendsday on it.

[GeneralLee]

Several Kentucky Senators and Representatives have given the money they received from him to charity. Personally I think they're legally screwed but some seem to think it gets them off the hook, any opinions?

[Rush Limbaugh]

What if we find all or most of congress is tainted in this manner in some way? This could be bigger than anyone imagines. Maybe we can elect a whole new crew.

[Darth Wong]

Can anyone ever really be that surprised when a politician is found to be corrupt?

[mike^_^]

Can anyone ever really be that surprised when a politician is found to be corrupt?

this is the problem

I was watching fox news today and one of the talking heads said something about a "culture of corruption" in the republican party. then the opposing side (fair and balanced, remember) said something to the effect of, "well yeah we're corrupt, but so are you guys!". bypassing any discussion about why both parties are corrupt, and are working towards the same goal.

remember trying to tell that one kid who wears the same shirt everyday that WWF wrestling is actually more of a scripted dance, rather than actual fighting?

[GambleFish]

When one party gains total control of the governement branches - House, Senate, Presidency, and to a certain extent the Supreme Court - they start thinking that they are above the law - that no one and nothing will be able to bring thme down. That leads to this.

[Nationalist_Cause]

Highly centralized federal power, an obscene amount of money (government revenues or otherwise), and a stagnant Congress are going to lead to corruption. Having the same party in control of Congress and the presidency probably doesn't help the situation much, but I don't feel its the root cause of the corruption.

This type of thing isn't new or unheard of anyways. Lobbyists are basically corrupt as well. The term originated from people who would wait in hotel lobbies (during post civil war reconstruction) for their turn to bribe republican politicians.

[Atheist Peace]

Lobbyists need to have some kind of quota or something, and bribes, etc. need to be cracked down on severely and stopped.

The good thing is that all those corrupt congressman can finally be sent away. By that I mean all the Democrats and all the Republicans in Washington.

Then they can be replaced by another group of corrupt fools.

[GambleFish]

Lobbyists need to have some kind of quota or something, and bribes, etc. need to be cracked down on severely and stopped.

The good thing is that all those corrupt congressman can finally be sent away. By that I mean all the Democrats and all the Republicans in Washington.

Then they can be replaced by another group of corrupt fools.

This might have more far-reaching implications than a new wave of corrupt fools.

I have a feeling that this is only the tip of the iceberg in Washington... sufficient imvestifgation could lead to massive indictions and possibly new laws or codes put in place for lobbyists / campaign donations.

Even if no reforms occur, I am pretty sure that this could rock Washington... just in time for the mid-term elections.

[Atheist Peace]

This might have more far-reaching implications than a new wave of corrupt fools.

I have a feeling that this is only the tip of the iceberg in Washington... sufficient imvestifgation could lead to massive indictions and possibly new laws or codes put in place for lobbyists / campaign donations.

Even if no reforms occur, I am pretty sure that this could rock Washington... just in time for the mid-term elections.

Reforms will occur, but as long as their is intellectual corruption throughout the leaders in Washington, there will be tangible corruption such as this. The only way to really stop it is to have leaders who don't put their personal interests above those of their constituents. Unfortunately, the American people are far too stupid to see this or do anything about it.

[vsaiyan]

Abramoff is really going to mess with Washington big time. Have you ever seen "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington"? Well if you have than you've seen extreme corruption, which is characteristic of every politician regardless of party. This corruption has reared part, albeit a very small one, of its ugly head. My hope is that the indictments and investigations go deeper, much deeper. My only fear is that the only thing which will temporarily stop corruption (for a good 5-6 days) is a revolution. In the past a revolution has been about the only thing that has phased corruption, and I have no reason to believe things would go differently today. Ultimately the corruption was only paused for a very short time though. You see, corruption is (imo) a facet of human nature. Every human yearns for more and more power, and those who say otherwise are lying. The old saying is "absolute power corrupts absolutely" but I believe the quest for said power can have the same effects... I guess what I'm saying is I wish for a corruption-free environment but know that it is impossible while run by humans.