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Multimillion dollar Abramoff client gave $50,000 to GOP after meeting with Bush

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Posted by: 97silverlsc

Multimillion dollar Abramoff client gave $50,000 to GOP after meeting with Bush, DeLay, Hastert and Lott
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Multim...ve_0201. html
John Byrne and Ron Brynaert
Published: February 1, 2006

Fitial with President Bush in 2001Abramoff firm gave $50,000 more to GOP congressional campaigns seven months after visits

Eleven million dollars can buy a lot of access in Washington. Especially if your lobbyist is Jack Abramoff.

Take Beningo Fitial, the current governor of the Northern Marianas Islands, a U.S. territory in the Pacific. He and his company, along with their trade lobby and funds doled out by the islands at his prodding, spent $11.5 million dollars lobbying Washington between 1995 and 2002. Now he says he wants his money back -- but he continues to maintain that Abramoff protected his island's interests.

Fitial—who became Speaker of the Marianas House after a coup organized by Abramoff’s associates and former aides of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay—was treated like a king.

In January 2001, Fitial enjoyed the inauguration of President George W. Bush.

Three months later, in April, Fitial met Bush a second time. He also met then-Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS). Then he stopped in for visit with Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-IL).

Fitial with Tom DeLay and Conrad BurnsIn other words—Abramoff seems to have arranged for a non-head of state for a tiny island in the Pacific to meet with the three most powerful men in the United States of America. But that’s not all: Fitial also met with then-Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-TX) and Senate Interior Department Appropriations Chairman Conrad Burns (R-MT). Fitial appears in photographs with Burns and Delay -- enlarged from tiny thumbnails in his hometown paper -- at left.

That, it seems -- along with a spate of legislative victories keeping the islands from U.S. jurisdiction -- is the value of $11 million dollars. Fitial, not surprisingly, has not been terribly critical of Abramoff since he pled guilty to myriad criminal charges, including fraud, tax evasion and bribing members of Congress.

Six months after his visit to Capitol Hill, Fitial’s family’s companies donated $50,000 to the National Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The following month, Abramoff’s firm, at the direction of former press secretary to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) Michael Scanlon, doled out $50,000 to the National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee. The Los Angeles Times reported last year that Scanlon secured Fitial's election by promising U.S. tax dollars as "bartering chips."

Fitial also chaired the islands' campaign to raise money for President Bush’s election. The AP reported last May that records show Abramoff’s Marianas lobbying team met members of the Bush Administration at least 195 times between February through November 2001.

A month before Bush was photographed with Fitial, he appointed Patrick Pizzella, a former Abramoff lieutenant, as Deputy Undersecretary of Labor. Pizzella worked the Marianas account with Abramoff; according to the New Republic, the former conservative lobbyist handpicked Pizzella for his Marianas lobbying team.

Another photo of Fitial and Bush, discovered by Raw StoryAsked about his meeting with Bush, Fitial told his local newspaper the Saipan Tribune, "This was a great opportunity to raise the CNMI's (Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands) concerns to the president directly. Indeed, when the President discussed our military's readiness, I made it clear to him that the people of the CNMI support the military's presence and exercises in the Northern Mariana Islands."

“The president,” Fitial added, “said he was very pleased to know that the CNMI is supporting the military's presence in the islands."

Fitial also said he was pleased most by the fact that Lott recalled their meeting in a previous year. He said, "I think our efforts in Washington will continue to pay off for the CNMI people.”

And pay off they did: The Mariana’s $11.5 million, channeled through Abramoff, crushed numerous attempts to impose minimum wage and labor laws on the island territory. The tropical hotspot where Tom DeLay spent New Years in 1998 playing golf remains a haven for U.S. garment manufacturers—including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Gap—who enjoy the loosely enforced minimum wage of $3.05.

But you wouldn't know that from the labels: all products made in the Commonwealth can be stamped "Made in the USA," thanks to the U.S. Congress.

The Marianas have since accused Abramoff and his staff of overcharging the islands for some $1.2 million in unsupported expenses. The charges included travel, telephone, photocopy, computer research and outside-professional fees. Pizzella was not named by auditors, though was among the most traveled members of Abramoff’s group.

But this didn’t stop now-Governor Fitial from defending Abramoff just last week when asked if he regretted working with the lobbyist. “I will not comment about what Abramoff did outside of the commonwealth,” Fitial told the Marianas Variety Online. “But if you ask me what he did for the commonwealth, (Abramoff) protected our Covenant.”

Covenant is Fitial's political party. Fitial was elected governor of the Northern Marianas in November.

Posted by: MonsterMark

More pin the tail....

Boring.

Posted by: pbslmo

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterMark

More pin the tail....

Boring.

Wow, bored with the truth? Spin another Lie, GW.

Posted by: fossten

NOW WAIT JUST A MINUTE.

I can prove that you Weenies believe that only the money that came directly from Abramoff is what counts.

According to your own standards, this article is meaningless because the money came from somebody else.

You can't have it both ways.

Hypocrites.

Posted by: MonsterMark

But David, wait a second. They are TRYING soooo hard to make something stick, anything stick. We should give them credit. 5 years of the weenies making donkeys out of themselves has to account for something?

When their Presidential candidate gets back into the Oval Office (hopefully after I'm worm food), I am quite sure their President will not take a call, take a photograph or meet with anyone....ever, while he is in office.

Can somebody find out if Bush was serving coffee during all of these offenses and what brand was it?

Posted by: fossten

Well, if this guilt by association thing is going to be used, then Hillary Clinton is in league with drug dealers. Remember the photo she took with Jorge Cabrera and the $$$$$$$ he donated to the DNC?

Attachment 14100

Posted by: MonsterMark

Tribes gave to Reid after hiring Abramoff

Full Story

By TONY BATT
STEPHENS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada began receiving campaign contributions from at least four American Indian tribes only after they hired Jack Abramoff, Republicans charged this week in an effort to tie the Senate Democratic leader to the disgraced lobbyist.[snip]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Don't you love how the media works? Sorry Dingy, you're not credible on this subject. Next!

Posted by: MonsterMark

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Looks like the turkey came home to roost.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/02/09/D8FLR3380.html

By JOHN SOLOMON and SHARON THEIMER
Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator's staff regularly had contact with the disgraced lobbyist's team about legislation affecting other clients.

The activities _ detailed in billing records and correspondence obtained by The Associated Press _ are far more extensive than previously disclosed. They occurred over three years as Reid collected nearly $68,000 in donations from Abramoff's firm, lobbying partners and clients. Reid's office acknowledged Thursday having "routine contacts" with Abramoff's lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters _ such as blocking some tribal casinos _ in ways Abramoff's clients might have deemed helpful. But it said none of his actions were affected by donations or done for Abramoff. [snip]

Of course not Dirty Harry. Not you. You're a DemocRat!
Those that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Posted by: MonsterMark

See how long it takes for the MSM to admit the truth!

Posted by: barry2952

Any one that's dirty should be out on their a$$.

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

Any one that's dirty should be out on their a$$.

Whatsamatter, barry, afraid to name names on YOUR SIDE?

Posted by: barry2952

Stomp those little feet David. It's very becoming. What a visual!

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

David. It's very

. What a

I'm surprised you can even sit down long enough to type your little sentences. I've had my foot up your a s s for several months now.

Posted by: barry2952

No, that was your mouth you had your foot in. Couldn't you tell the difference?

Posted by: Vitas

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

No, that was your mouth you had your foot in. Couldn't you tell the difference?

That statement sounds profound in certain circles.

Posted by: fossten

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

No, that was your mouth you had your foot in. Couldn't you tell the difference?

"I know you are, but what am I?"

Grow up.

Posted by: barry2952

http://www.time.com/time/nation/arti...0.html?cnn=yes

Posted by: MrWilson

Whats wrong with a little more cash?

Posted by: barry2952

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former top aide to Texas Republican Rep. Tom DeLay pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy on Friday in the influence-peddling investigation involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Tony Rudy, the former deputy chief of staff to DeLay, entered the guilty plea in federal court as part of a deal with Justice Department prosecutors. He was be the second former DeLay aide to plead guilty in the probe.

He faced a maximum penalty of five years but under the agreement he was expected to serve between two and 2 1/2 years. As part of the agreement he will cooperate and provide "complete and truthful information" in the Justice Department investigation.

Abramoff, the lobbyist at the heart of a scandal that has rattled top Republicans, has been cooperating in the federal investigation into whether Washington politicians gave his clients favorable treatment in exchange for campaign contributions, Super Bowl tickets and other illegal gifts.
03/31/06 11:25 © Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd.

Posted by: MonsterMark

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry2952

Abramoff, the lobbyist at the heart of a scandal that has rattled top Republicans,

I've got my popcorn bowl, sodi-pop and the easy chair set to the 'recline' position just waiting for the 1st Dem head to be lopped off thusly affixing a great big smile to my handsome face.

Posted by: barry2952

I assure you that many liberals here will share in your glee. I will supply the popcorn.