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Ear to the Ground

Abramoff Gets Four Years

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Posted on Sep 4, 2008
Abramoff
AP photo / Lynne Sladky

Jack Abramoff in 2006 at the Miami federal justice building, where he was facing criminal charges stemming from the 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos.

Jack Abramoff was given four years in prison by a federal judge Thursday—a sentence whittled down from a possible 11 years because he cooperated with investigators —for his part in the fraud and corruption scandal that jolted Washington and landed several other lobbyists and Capitol Hill players in trouble as well.


AP via Google News:

With Abramoff’s help, the Justice Department has won corruption convictions against a parade of lawmakers, Bush administration figures and Capitol Hill aides.

Abramoff admitted trading luxury golf junkets, expensive meals, skybox tickets and other gifts for political favors. The scandal shook Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to Capitol Hill and contributed to the Republicans’ loss of Congress in 2006.

Abramoff apologized to the court and said he was a changed man.

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By PatrickHenry, September 6, 2008 at 1:29 pm #

Four years is not enough.

Here we have a pro-Israeli rabbi, who exports high end sniper rifles to Israel, steals millions in money from Indian tribes for photo ops and pushes anything which is for our “good friend” Israel.

He is a poster boy for those lobbies which are ruining this nation.

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By cyrena, September 5, 2008 at 5:21 pm #

PupleGirl,

I have a feeling that there is probably lots of paperwork in the making right about now, and ready to be handed down.

Our very own Henry Waxman here in California has been ‘on it’ like you wouldn’t believe. I’m talking a dedicated public servant.

But ya know, on the real criminals, and the real crimes (not that these aren’t, but you get my meaning…Dick Bush et al) the Military Commissions Act is the first thing that needs to be overhauled the day Obama takes office. In effect, that legislation provides BLANKET PARDONS, for the worst of their crimes…the torture, and the elimination of habeas corpus, the spying, and all of the rest of it. What it did, was to cover their asses after the fact.

So, while I agree that the indictments should be ready to hand down, only the complete revocation of the MCA is going to get us to where we can try these criminals both here and in an International Criminal Tribunal.

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By KDelphi, September 5, 2008 at 12:29 pm #

Purple Girl, I agree completely. I have been disappointed by representatives before—its painful, but it must be done. If things are going to change in DC, the culture of cronyism has got to go!

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By Purple Girl, September 5, 2008 at 10:21 am #

Is this Why any legal actions have been stuck in Committee or sidestepped. Could it be the Dems actually have a plan to do something as soon as the ability to Pardon is no longer available.
If it is I wish they would at least throw out a few more hints.
If the Dems are smart they will have Indictments ready to be handed down Right after Obama is Inaugerated.As soon as he finishs the Oath, Door bells are rung and handcuffs start clicking.
If the Dems want to be re elected in ‘12, they must go after every person who has been intrical in CheneyCorp- all the Way back to the Bigininng during the Nixon Admin…Cheney,Rummy,Wolfie, all the corp Oil Czars, Wall Street Gamblers and treasonous Copatriots of foreign countries (aka Saudi Arabia/UAE).Working their way downward, Outward & Backwards!
Abramoff is a Small fish, minor Dept head position.
Scooter Libby with a Fedra and Trench coat.

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By ApprxAm, September 5, 2008 at 12:37 am #

There can’t nearly be enough jails in America that doesn’t have poor, minorty or abused prisoners, so the court don’t send weak bodied political or white-collared criminals because that would be cruel and unusual punishment.

I’m sure g.w.b is meeting with g.n. & Gonzaly about the pardon forms…all that’s needed is a date.

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By ApprxAm, September 5, 2008 at 12:30 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

When is Grover going to get him sprung?

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By Joseph Palermo, September 4, 2008 at 8:57 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Abramoff deserved to serve the entire 11 years—he’ll be on Fox News as an ethics commentator when he gets out—he supported Apartheid in South Africa as a Young Republican - I think that might be a tad racist— I hope he shares a cell with Jerome “the booty bandit” Johnson.

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By KDelphi, September 4, 2008 at 6:23 pm #

I dont give a rat’s ass! If they broke the law—send everyone in DC to prison!!

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By RightWing, September 4, 2008 at 6:14 pm #

He also gave to Obama Aegrus, or do we just forget those facts, and can you point out the connection, or just the party affiliation?


Michael Roston
Published: Wednesday February 20, 200

But in 2008, it might be harder for the Democratic presidential nominee to make the same case that his or her Congressional counterparts successfully built in 2006. Facing off against likely Republican nominee John McCain, who as a senator led early investigations into Abramoff’s corrupt lobbying, either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama could find themselves linked to Abramoff and his former law firm, the Miami-based giant Greenberg Traurig. I know I didnt get my facts from the Kos or Huffpo, but hey , what the heck

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By KDelphi, September 4, 2008 at 5:43 pm #

YOu or I wouldve gotten decades!

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By Aegrus, September 4, 2008 at 5:13 pm #

Another notch for Justice.

Also, another connection to Palin.

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