Hastert next victim in Abramoff probe?

[bobtheflob]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/05/federal_officia.html

Officials: Hastert "In the Mix" of Congressional Bribery Investigation

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dennis Hastert, is under investigation by the FBI, which is seeking to determine his role in an ongoing public corruption probe into members of Congress, ABC News has learned from senior U.S. law enforcement officials.

Federal officials say the information implicating Hastert was developed from convicted lobbyists who are now cooperating with the government.

Part of the investigation involves a letter Hastert wrote three years ago, urging the Secretary of the Interior to block a casino on an Indian reservation that would have competed with other tribes.

The other tribes were represented by convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff who reportedly has provided details of his dealings with Hastert as part of his plea agreement with the government.

The letter was written shortly after a fund-raiser for Hastert at a restaurant owned by Abramoff. Abramoff and his clients contributed more than $26,000 at the time.

The day Abramoff was indicted, Hastert denied any unlawful connection and said he would donate to charity any campaign contribution he had received from Abramoff and his clients.

A spokesman for Speaker Hastert told ABC News, "We are not aware of this. The Speaker has a long history and a well-documented record of opposing Indian Reservation shopping for casino gaming purposes."

This week, Hastert has been outspoken in his criticism of the FBI for its raid on the office of another congressman under investigation, Democrat William Jefferson of Louisiana.

"My opinion is that they took the wrong path, Hastert said of the FBI. "They need to back up, and we need to go from there."

[YouEnjoyMyself]

You use the word "victim", I use the word "suspect".

[shade]

I find it interesting that Jefferson is still in office.

I hope anyone found to be corrupt will step down. It can only help the US by purging corruption regardless of party.

[bobtheflob]

You use the word "victim", I use the word "suspect".

I didn't mean anything by saying victim, it's just how it was labeled in the link I clicked to read the story. The Republicans were in a mentality of "anything to win" for so long because they were out of power that they don't know how to act when they have power.

[YouEnjoyMyself]

My apologies.

[TFS]

I didn't mean anything by saying victim, it's just how it was labeled in the link I clicked to read the story. The Republicans were in a mentality of "anything to win" for so long because they were out of power that they don't know how to act when they have power.
Considering how poorly the democrats are doing even now, you gotta wonder how they'll handle their new-found power if/when they regain control.

[jn_powell]

The Justice Department is saying he is not under investigation.
WASHINGTON May 24, 2006 (AP)— The Justice Department denied a news report Wednesday that it was investigating House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

The statement by department spokeswoman Tasia Scolinos came in response to a report by ABC News that Hastert was under investigation by the FBI to determine his role in a public corruption probe centered around convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Amid a furor surrounding the weekend FBI raid on the offices of Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., ABC quoted federal officials as saying information implicating Hastert was developed from convicted lobbyists now cooperating with the government.

Hastert, R-Ill., sharply criticized the raid and, with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., demanded that Justice Department officials return all the documents seized from Jefferson's office.

Asked if he was being investigated, Hastert said late Wednesday that he has not received any notice from the Justice Department that he was being investigated as part of the Jack Abramoff probe.

"You'll have to ask the Justice Department," he told reporters, as he walked from his office to the House chamber. "Somebody leaked it out."

Pressed by reporters, Scolinos said: "Speaker Hastert is not under investigation by the Justice Department."

Hastert's office later issued a statement calling the ABC report "absolutely untrue" and demanding a full retraction. ABC had no immediate comment.

Hastert was among nearly three dozen lawmakers who pressed the Interior Department to block a Louisiana Indian casino's casino application. An Associated Press review of campaign reports, IRS records and congressional correspondence found that Hastert and the other lawmakers had collected large donations from Abramoff and his tribal clients.

Between 2001 and 2004, Hastert collected more than $100,000 in donations from Abramoff's firm and tribal clients. He also had used Abramoff's restaurant to hold fundraisers.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2001422

[shade]

I am shocked that ABC would rush a story out that harms a republican.