LoungeMachine
11-22-2005, 11:07 PM
Scanlon: "Guilty, Your Honor"
By Josh Eidelson
Under a plea agreement announced yesterday, former DeLay aide and press secretary Michael Scanlon pled guilty on charges of conspiracy to violate criminal laws against bribing public officials, and agreed to pay back $19.6 million in kickbacks from fees Scanlon received from Indian tribes taken advantage of by him and his partner, Jack Abramoff. Government sources say that Scanlon has agreed to testify in Abramoff's trial that he and Abramoff conspired to trade gifts (including international trips, skybox seats, and meals at Abramoff's restaurant, Signatures), for acccess and votes.
Nov 22, 2005 -- 03:48:14 PM EST
Court papers focus on Scanlon and Abramoff's work in lobbying "Representative No. 1" with gifts "in exchange for a series of official acts and influence." Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) has acknowledged that he is "Representative No. 1," but his spokesman insists that Ney was unknowingly taken advantage of by Scanlon. Bloomberg reports that the plea agreement creates an opening for the Justice Department to prosecute Ney and others without running afoul of the "speech and debate" clause of the Constitution; while the act of introducing legislation is protected under the clause, prior quid pro quo agreements are not.
Prosecutors wrote that "It was a purpose of the conspiracy for Scanlon and Lobbyist A [Abramoff] to enrich themselves by obtaining substantial funds from their clients through fraud and concealment and through obtaining benefits for their clients through corrupt means." Under sentencing guidelines in the plea bargain, Scanlon would serve between 51 and 63 months in prison.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that we'll have to wait longer for Judge Priest to rule on a motion to drop charges against Scanlon's old boss, Tom DeLay.
:D :D :D :D
By Josh Eidelson
Under a plea agreement announced yesterday, former DeLay aide and press secretary Michael Scanlon pled guilty on charges of conspiracy to violate criminal laws against bribing public officials, and agreed to pay back $19.6 million in kickbacks from fees Scanlon received from Indian tribes taken advantage of by him and his partner, Jack Abramoff. Government sources say that Scanlon has agreed to testify in Abramoff's trial that he and Abramoff conspired to trade gifts (including international trips, skybox seats, and meals at Abramoff's restaurant, Signatures), for acccess and votes.
Nov 22, 2005 -- 03:48:14 PM EST
Court papers focus on Scanlon and Abramoff's work in lobbying "Representative No. 1" with gifts "in exchange for a series of official acts and influence." Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) has acknowledged that he is "Representative No. 1," but his spokesman insists that Ney was unknowingly taken advantage of by Scanlon. Bloomberg reports that the plea agreement creates an opening for the Justice Department to prosecute Ney and others without running afoul of the "speech and debate" clause of the Constitution; while the act of introducing legislation is protected under the clause, prior quid pro quo agreements are not.
Prosecutors wrote that "It was a purpose of the conspiracy for Scanlon and Lobbyist A [Abramoff] to enrich themselves by obtaining substantial funds from their clients through fraud and concealment and through obtaining benefits for their clients through corrupt means." Under sentencing guidelines in the plea bargain, Scanlon would serve between 51 and 63 months in prison.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports that we'll have to wait longer for Judge Priest to rule on a motion to drop charges against Scanlon's old boss, Tom DeLay.
:D :D :D :D