Abramoff: The Caged Bird Sings

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Even though he’s in prison, Jack Abramoff will continue to cooperate with prosecutors for the forseeable future. A status conference originally scheduled for tomorrow, during which the judge would have set a date for Abramoff to be sentenced on bribery charges, has been postponed until June 5th. Abramoff is already serviing time for separate fraud charges related to his purchase of a line of casino boats.

The prosecutors and Abramoff’s lawyer agreed to push the date back last week, because “Mr. Abramoff’s cooperation will continue for the foreseeable future,” according to a joint motion from the two parties. Prosecutors made the same request for Michael Scanlon, Abramoff’s business partner.

Abramoff and Scanlon have already helped prosecutors win guilty pleas or convictions for ex-Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH), Ney’s former chiefs of staff Neil Volz and Will Heaton, ex-Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s staffer Tony Rudy, and former administration official David Safavian, and prosecutors are reportedly close to indicting the former deputy secretary of the Interior Steven Griles.

DeLay, DeLay’s former chief of staff Ed Buckham, Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) and former Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) are reportedly on the shortlist of other potential targets.

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