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Officials: Hastert "In the Mix" of Congressional Bribery Investigation
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ShareMay 24, 2006 6:24 PM
Federal officials say the Congressional bribery investigation now includes Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, based on information 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."
ABC News' Rhonda Schwartz and Richard Esposito contributed to this report.
Link: Click here to read Brian Ross' latest report on the bribery investigation into Rep. Jefferson.
Link: Click here to see the charges on Abramoff's AmEx Bill.
Link: Click here to check out the bribe menu of convicted Congressman Duke Cunningham.
Link: Click here to read Brian Ross' story on Abramoff accepting a plea bargain.
Link: Click here to read Brian Ross' report on "Delay's Lavish Island Getaway" arranged by Abramoff.
May 24, 2006 in Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert | Permalink | User Comments (184)
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Here's my suggestion for next fall:
THROW EVERY SINGLE SENATOR AND CONGRESSMAN OUT OF OFFICE! NO EXCEPTIONS!
Damn, if there were a viable third party, I'd vote for it's candidates in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Mark Jaeger | May 24, 2006 7:18:25 PM
I think this helps explain why so many Republicans are fighting for William Jefferson against the FBI. It also explains why I and many of my fellow Republican friends are becoming registered Independents and leaving the Republican Party!
Posted by: Mike Mullen | May 24, 2006 7:19:46 PM
Brian Ross: How can you investigate anyone when you're #1 on the FBI"S hit parade?
Posted by: tom callahan | May 24, 2006 7:20:49 PM
Well THIS would confirm why Hastert has been so outspoken about the FBI raid on a Democrat's office! Just I suspected! The WHOLE LOT OF THEM are rotecting one another. Democrat, Republican, the whole lot of them are filthy! This is increasingly becoming the dark day for America that we always knew was there! The whole lot of them are crooked!
Posted by: James Burke | May 24, 2006 7:22:57 PM
Why haven't people become at least concerned about these nasty polital habits and allegations of nasty political habits that have been exposed over the last year or so? Too many Americans seem to believe that this is just some sort of cost of doing business, instead of recognizing that this is eroding our government and our society's ethics. Few also seem to recognize that the FBI's recent raid of a Congressman's office is a constitutional breach. Instead, too many seem worried about what Hollywood is doing for "family values", what language Hispanics are singing in, and shopping.
Posted by: Dana Smith | May 24, 2006 7:27:01 PM
Bring out the backhoe and keep on diggin!
Posted by: Vincent Nemeti | May 24, 2006 7:29:26 PM
It was fine for the Executive Branch to do Congress' job and declare war (Congress had to beg to rubberstamp the Iraq war resolution and, apparently, any spying GWB wants to do) but now that the Exec branch is raiding offices they are outraged? Amazing.
So perhaps this is why Hastert and the Congress have suddenly re-discovered the Separation of Powers...to get their payola papers back?
Posted by: DaveP | May 24, 2006 7:31:13 PM
Go Brian go. Republican or Democrats, expose them. Hastert protests too much.
Posted by: Bob | May 24, 2006 7:31:24 PM
Very misleading title...
Posted by: Bob | May 24, 2006 7:31:54 PM
Investigate everyone in WashingtonD. C. They are all
crooks.
Posted by: Margaret M Hoffman | May 24, 2006 7:34:42 PM
Developing.
Could be something. Could be nothing.
Posted by: Sean | May 24, 2006 7:38:10 PM
this explains why he was so defensive of Jefferson's plight...........they are all crooks !!
Posted by: Frank Krosnicki | May 24, 2006 7:41:13 PM
*LOL*!!!
This Is So Funny That, I Burst-Out Laughing When I 1st Read The Headline!!!
In Reality Though, It's SO DARN *SAD*!
:-(
Posted by: The View Master! | May 24, 2006 7:41:36 PM
Brian:
Unlike your unaired story on the Admin bugging journalists, your producer has to put this story out... or do they?
Posted by: SPENCER ADAMS | May 24, 2006 7:41:57 PM
This is just the tip of the iceberg...
Of course the members of congress are stating this is unconstitutional, they are all corrupt and they all have something to hide.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME FOR ANOTHER BOSTON TEA PARTY...
Throw all of those theiving bastards out and make mandatory term limits so they aren't tempted to take bribes and become engrained in corruption.
Posted by: Paul | May 24, 2006 7:49:01 PM
I know Denny Hastert personally and would be shocked if there is any truth to this.
Posted by: yorkvilleguy | May 24, 2006 7:59:44 PM
Dennis Hastert is out to lunch.
Let's have the House and Congress abide by and subject to the same laws the rest of the nation lives under.
Is he and his conrades exempt from the very rule of law he pleaded to uphold?
Save a jail cell for this one, XL.
Posted by: moe | May 24, 2006 8:01:30 PM
Is their a democrat without 100 grand in his freezer ?
Posted by: kevin | May 24, 2006 8:02:22 PM
Whatever happened to the bribe from russia that hastert received...Did the FBI forget that or oops sorry hastert is a republican, they dont do republicans, just democrats...
Posted by: pal | May 24, 2006 8:02:53 PM
No wonder Denny boy was so hot under the collar when the FBI raided William Jefferson's office..said it was unconstitutional (guess he knew he might be next..?)....How ever it seems to be pretty much okay with their Constitution (Pelosi, included) to raid/ tap/listen/data-mine/snoop, on us peasants, who pay the bills for these jackals and theives....any body else as sick of this bunch as I am? Can't we just start all over....?
Posted by: Chabuka | May 24, 2006 8:04:14 PM
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