Abramoff guilty plea
Posted January 4th, 2006 by polizeros
in
D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff has pled guilty to multiple felonies and will be singing a mighty aria to avoid a long prison term. His web of corruption went everywhere. Think Progess has a detailed primer.
The plea deal includes no IRS exemption for back taxes owed, $25 million in restitution, 108-135 months in prison, maybe less - if he sings a pretty song, 30 years if he doesn't.
Prominent neocons like Ralph Reed, Grover Norquist, and Tom DeLay are getting ensnared. Senators and members of the House too. Some trails appear to lead to Dubya.
Grab some popcorn. The curtain is just now going up. It's already been quite a show and Act 1 hasn't even started. A seriously wounded neocon agenda could not help but have transatlantic implications.
this is the key to the
this is the key to the Chamber of Secrets ...
Don't get your hopes up...
Don't get your hopes up... This was forwarded to me by email, it originates from Mark Crispin Miller's newsletter:
I and many others are concerned that there might be ulterior motives (imagine that!) for Alice Fisher's appointment as the prosecutor of record in the Abramoff case. You might recall that there were some questions about Fisher and interrogation tactics at Guantamo -- questions that stalled her nomination. But you might not recall that there were also questions about her connections to Tom DeLay. I'm not sure if anyone noticed that Fisher's law firm, Latham & Watkins, defended Bill Frist's family's HCA in their massive fraud suit. Granted, it's a big firm and Fisher was but one of many partners. But between the lack of prosecutorial experience and the ties to DeLay and possibly to Frist, we should be asking if Fisher is an appropriate prosecutor for this case, don't you think?
From
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alice_S._Fisher
'Alice S. Fisher was appointed by President George W. Bush in a recess appointment August 31, 2005...'
'Vermont Senator Patrick J. Leahy said in his May 12, 2005, statement. "I am somewhat concerned, however, that Ms. Fisher is nominated for one of the most visible prosecutorial positions in the country without ever having prosecuted a case, and she brings to the position minimal trial experience in any context," he said.'
'Leahy was also concerned about "reports that she has had ties to Congressman Tom DeLay's defense team" and "also [wanted] to know what steps she [intended] to take to avoid a conflict of interest in the Department's investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and possibly Mr. DeLay."'
'Fisher, then working at the law firm of Latham & Watkins in Washington, where she was a partner, was awaiting Senate confirmation of her nomination.'
And I was hoping to see the
And I was hoping to see the separation of powers in action, rather than an example of separation of powers inaction...
It all looks so much clearer on West Wing:(