Jack Abramoff isn't a household word yet in this country, but he will be (of course, it always helps to have a name like "Scooter"). while the Plame investigation involves just a few top administration officials, the Abramoff investigation will touch virtually everyone in the Republican establishment:
Quote:
The other cloud on Republican horizon
GOP leaders and activists are beleaguered by alleged ties to indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
WASHINGTON – Of all the pending controversies in Washington, few may be as perilous for the Republican majority as the one swirling around former powerhouse lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
At issue: Did he bilk, with partner Michael Scanlon, six Indian tribes of at least $80 million, evade taxes, and violate lobbyist disclosure rules? Mr. Abramoff has been indicted on fraud charges in Florida in a case related to his $147.5 million purchase of a gambling casino. He also faces probes by two Senate panels and a federal grand jury, which may yield criminal charges.
But what gives this scandal so much scope is the number of members of Congress, federal officials, and top conservative activists it potentially involves. More than just the saga of a rogue lobbyist, it opens a window on a high-stakes, high-fee lobbyist culture that is transforming Beltway business.
"We don't know yet how big a genuine scandal it may be. But with more indictments [expected] in six to eight months, it creates a perfect storm for the Bush administration. Endemic corruption plus public unhappiness over other policies: It's a very combustible combination," says Norman Ornstein, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a generally conservative think tank in Washington.
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