Perhaps Rep. John Doolittle's constituents find comfort that he quoted the Bible in announcing 'his departure' after such conspicuous corruption, but yet another Abramoff connection may occupy a cell next to 'Duke' Cunningham in continuing investigations.
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Indian Casino Gambling offers too much profit and too much advantage to casino investors to expect corruption will end with Abramoff and cronies imprisoned.
.This ceased being about 'helping' Indians long ago and became HELPING ONESELF.
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This unwinding sage bears watching.
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Doolittle: 'The time has come for my departure.'
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Doolittle's legal problems were spawned during the heady days for Republican conservatives when former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, first as whip and then as House Republican leader, was the caucus's ideological enforcer.
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Doolittle was a faithful lieutenant on DeLay's whip team and started up the leadership ladder as conference secretary. As DeLay's power rose on Capitol Hill, it also spread throughout Washington. Doolittle thrived in DeLay's reflected beam.
Doolittle was a faithful lieutenant on DeLay's whip team and started up the leadership ladder as conference secretary. As DeLay's power rose on Capitol Hill, it also spread throughout Washington. Doolittle thrived in DeLay's reflected beam.
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In 1995, DeLay conceived the K Street Project, a scheme to rid the major lobbying houses of Democrats. His message was clear: If you wanted to do business with House Republicans, you had to go through purist Republican lobbyists.
In 1995, DeLay conceived the K Street Project, a scheme to rid the major lobbying houses of Democrats. His message was clear: If you wanted to do business with House Republicans, you had to go through purist Republican lobbyists.
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Jack Abramoff converted his association with DeLay into an empire. He was not alone. Several DeLay staffers, including chief of staff Ed Buckham, formed their own lobbying firm, the Alexander Strategy Group.
.Jack Abramoff converted his association with DeLay into an empire. He was not alone. Several DeLay staffers, including chief of staff Ed Buckham, formed their own lobbying firm, the Alexander Strategy Group.
Doolittle knew them all and grabbed the perks as they came along. He used Abramoff's skybox at a downtown sports arena for fundraising, dined at Abramoff's Signatures restaurant, gloried in political contributions from them and their clients and helped with letters and federal money whenever he could.
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But there was plenty of money flowing to Doolittle and his political action committees from Abramoff's other clients, especially Indian tribes. Abramoff would later admit to grossly overcharging in lobbying activities that generally involved tribal gambling. In all, Doolittle received more than $140,000 from Abramoff, his associates and clients before his empire collapsed in 2005.
1 comment:
There will always be corruption in the casino business because of the humungus amount of dirty money involved. The investors have well organized money laundering machines. Just look at the number of indictments against Sol and Len in various countries over the years. Anyone who doubts their dirty business practices is naive. Abramoff is just one sour pickle in the barrel. Get rid of him and a new one pops up in the brine.
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