Today must have been a very bad day for a handful of members of Congress, numerous current and former Hill staffers and others as yet unnamed.
That’s because today Michael Scanlon, Jack Abramoff’s partner in much of the Indian gambling-congressional cash-n-carry hijinks you’ve been hearing about, pled guilty to bribe a congressman and other public officials. He agreed to pay back $19 million to Indian tribes he and Abramoff defrauded. He was also sentenced to 51 to 63 months in federal prison.
However, that sentence was immediately suspended. And it will be reduced if Scanlon continues to cooperate with federal prosecutors.
The first thing to note is the political and legal fate of Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH). A few days ago a fellow blogger sent me a post in which he incorrectly stated that Ney was not running for reelection. I pointed out the error — he’d confused him with retiring Ohio Rep. Mike Oxley (R). But I told him not to feel bad since he was right. Ney is retiring too; he just doesn’t know it yet.
Which brings us back to Scanlon’s plea. In their charge against Scanlon, federal prosecutors assert that Scanlon and Abramoff offered and Ney accepted numerous bribes for various official acts. (He’s referenced as ‘Legislator #1’; but it’s Ney.) By pleading guilty, Scanlon of course agrees that that is true. And he will testify to that effect.
That just can’t sit well with constituents.
And he’s not the only one.
This graf from the article in the Post tells the tale …
Investigators are looking at half a dozen members of Congress, current and former senior Hill aides, a former deputy secretary of the interior, and Abramoff’s former lobbying colleagues, according to sources familiar with the probe who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Because of his central role in much of Abramoff’s business, Scanlon could be a key witness in any trials that arise from the case.
This is just the beginning.
Late Update: My characterization of Scanlon’s sentencing was based on this report in Roll Call. But I’m now told this is not precisely accurate. He apparently faces that much prison time. But the judge has delayed sentencing pending Scanlon’s cooperation, etc. The Post’s account seems to square with that account, saying Scanlon “faces a maximum five years in prison.” Same difference basically. They’re holding five years over his head to insure full cooperation. But just wanted to clear that up.
