Feds Want More Time with Abramoff AssociateProsecutors working on the Jack Abramoff investigation have asked a federal judge to postpone setting a sentencing date for Tony Rudy, a close associate of Abramoff’s, because his “cooperation will continue for the foreseeable future.” It’s the second time they’ve pushed the date back.
It’s yet another sign that the Abramoff investigation is far from over, even after Rep. Bob Ney’s (R-OH) guilty plea.
Rudy, who served as Tom DeLay’s press secretary before moving to Abramoff’s team, pled guilty back in March to one count of conspiracy. His cooperation is likely bad news for Ed Buckham, DeLay’s longtime righthand man, whom Rudy implicated in his guilty plea for helping route Abramoff’s bribe money to Rudy while he was still working with DeLay. As as we’ve noted many times before, Buckham, who ran his own lobby shop called Alexander Strategy Group, would be a big one to fall.
Rudy was set to meet with prosecutors and a judge Oct. 2, but prosecutors, in a joint motion with Rudy’s lawyers, have asked that the date be postponed 90 days. That means that Rudy won’t be sentenced until well into next year. He faces a sentence between two years and 30 months.
