The scandals from the Republican Party are coming so fast that it is hard to keep up.
And many of those are connected to Jack Abramoff who goes on trial for SunCruz next month and both of his partners in the scam, Mike Scanlon and Adam Kidan have already made deals.
And all the young neo-cons who worked on Team Abramoff are talking as well. Now it's Jack's turn and the NYTs is reporting that he is desperate to cut a deal:
Jack Abramoff ... has been discussing with prosecutors a deal that would grant him a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony [snip].
Mr. Abramoff is believed to have extensive knowledge of what prosecutors suspect is a wider pattern of corruption among lawmakers and Congressional staff members. One participant in the case ... described him as a "unique resource."
No doubt!
More news on the jump...
The Jack Abramoff scandal is growing at a rapid clip. While it is only part of the GOP Culture of Corruption, it is a rich and deep gusher of sleaze. But Jack Abramoff is one the architects of the corruptions (along with Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed, Tom DeLay, Karl Rove, Ed Gillespie and many others). If he makes a deal he will be a very
"unique resource." indeed!
Maybe Bush has been wiretapping Jack's calls to see what and who he's ready to give up. The NYTs piece is filled with several goodies:
...the talks had reached a tense phase, with each side mindful of the date Jan. 9, when Mr. Abramoff is scheduled to stand trial in Miami in a separate prosecution. [snip]
Prominent party officials, including the former House majority leader, Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, are under scrutiny involving trips and other gifts from Mr. Abramoff and his clients. The case has shaken the Republican establishment, with the threat of testimony from Mr. Abramoff, once a ubiquitous and well-connected Republican star, sowing anxiety throughout the party ranks. [snip]
The existence of what amounts to two separate but overlapping investigations partly explains why the plea negotiations for Mr. Abramoff have been so protracted and tough, said people with inside knowledge of the case.
With the trial in Miami fast approaching, and coming on the heels of plea agreements from Mr. Scanlon and another close associate of Mr. Abramoff, pressure has mounted to reach his own agreement. Mr. Abramoff has also told associates that he is broke, making the prospect of an extended jury trial even less appealing. [snip]
Lawyers for Mr. Volz, Mr. Ney and Mr. Rudy did not return calls for comment. A lawyer for Mr. DeLay declined to comment, but spokesmen for Mr. DeLay have repeatedly said he had done nothing improper.
Such ties are only at the periphery of the investigations, according to people briefed on the case. Mr. Scanlon, who worked on public affairs for the SunCruz casinos and is familiar with the inner workings of many of Mr. Abramoff's deals, is cooperating in the Miami case as well as in Washington, his lawyer has said.
Prosecutors are also looking at how some former Congressional staff members landed their lucrative lobbying positions and at the role the wives of several lobbyists and lawmakers may have had in any influence scheme, a piece of the puzzle that investigators have begun referring to privately as the "wives' club."
Yikes! That has just got to ruin the Holidays for the GOP.
And for more Abramoff news you can see my Diary yesterday and check out some new documents of at TNR's blog: the Plank.