Abramoff's Secrets, Claims on Lawmakers May Start Emerging Soon

Abramoff's Secrets, Claims on Lawmakers May Start Emerging Soon

By Kristin Jensen
Dec. 9 (Bloomberg) -- For years, lobbyist Jack Abramoff wined and dined U.S. lawmakers, spreading donations and earning good will. Now, facing bribery accusations, he may be ready to share his Capitol Hill confidences with Justice Department investigators.

``The prosecutors are talking to Abramoff's lawyers because they want to get his cooperation in the prosecution of members of Congress, I'm sure,'' said John Kotelly, who prosecuted one of six congressmen convicted in the Abscam political corruption case in the 1980s. The question is what Abramoff has to offer and how much U.S. attorneys might give up in terms of jail time, he said. ``It's going to be kind of a dance between the two.''

Abramoff will have to implicate a high-ranking political figure to win any significant reduction in a potential prison sentence, former prosecutors said. His connections extend throughout Congress, including to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who once called Abramoff ``one of my closest and dearest friends.'' DeLay cut off contact with Abramoff and denied wrongdoing after a report that he improperly accepted travel from the lobbyist.

Abramoff's former partner, one-time DeLay aide Michael Scanlon, pleaded guilty on Nov. 21 to conspiring to corrupt public officials and defraud clients out of millions of dollars. Scanlon, 35, is cooperating with investigators, and former prosecutors such as Kotelly say that Abramoff, 46, is probably considering doing the same.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=washingtonstory&sid=aatBrI7b__DY

that talked about Abramoff trying to make a deal. I couldn't see him getting much time off unless he gave up some conmen. What fun if DeLay's name is on his list!

to talk? Is there any indication that they might.That could potentially be
the biggest explosion of all in this whole corrupt regime.

I could see an "accident" in his future.

Bring it on!