http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007080.php

Today must have been a very bad day for a handful of members of Congress, numerous current and former Hill staffers and others as yet unnamed.

That's because today Michael Scanlon, Jack Abramoff's partner in much of the Indian gambling-congressional cash-n-carry hijinks you've been hearing about, pled guilty to bribe a congressman and other public officials. He agreed to pay back $19 million to Indian tribes he and Abramoff defrauded. He was also sentenced to 51 to 63 months in federal prison.

However, that sentence was immediately suspended. And it will be reduced if Scanlon continues to cooperate with federal prosecutors.

The first thing to note is the political and legal fate of Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH). A few days ago a fellow blogger sent me a post in which he incorrectly stated that Ney was not running for reelection. I pointed out the error -- he'd confused him with retiring Ohio Rep. Mike Oxley (R). But I told him not to feel bad since he was right. Ney is retiring too; he just doesn't know it yet.

Which brings us back to Scanlon's plea. In their charge against Scanlon, federal prosecutors assert that Scanlon and Abramoff offered and Ney accepted numerous bribes for various official acts. (He's referenced as 'Legislator #1'; but it's Ney.) By pleading guilty, Scanlon of course agrees that that is true. And he will testify to that effect.

That just can't sit well with constituents.

And he's not the only one.

This graf from the article in the Post tells the tale ...

Investigators are looking at half a dozen members of Congress, current and former senior Hill aides, a former deputy secretary of the interior, and Abramoff's former lobbying colleagues, according to sources familiar with the probe who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Because of his central role in much of Abramoff's business, Scanlon could be a key witness in any trials that arise from the case.

11/22/2005 11:15:10 AM

I wish this happened every day.

11/22/2005 11:17:56 AM

This is big doings now matter which side of the aisle you're cheering for. I'm usually cheering against both sides so it's like XTRA-SPECIAL XMAS.

11/22/2005 11:20:44 AM

11/22/2005 11:24:04 AM

Quote :

"This is big doings now matter which side of the aisle you're cheering for. I'm usually cheering against both sides so it's like XTRA-SPECIAL XMAS. "

oh, agreed. The reason there are so many republicans in trouble lately is that it's mainly republicans breaking so many god damn laws. If the democrats were being this awful, we'd know by now, because the republican leadership would have exposed every bit of it

either that, or they're smarter.

11/22/2005 11:27:19 AM

one of my friends tried to stick up for them by saying there are so many rules now
and that the rules are so overwhelming its hard not to break them


he followed that up by saying this is probably the cleanest the gov't has ever run, its just with the media, everything is reported now...

11/22/2005 11:33:16 AM

Did you ask your friend why it seems to be only republicans that are getting in trouble? [paraphrasing DG]

11/22/2005 11:45:21 AM

he blames, are you ready, the media

11/22/2005 12:01:30 PM

!!!Shock'n'awe!!!

11/22/2005 12:18:39 PM

Could somebody compile a list of congressmen and senators who are not currently under investigation or suspected of some kind of crime? It couldn't be too hard. I just want to know who to go after next.

11/22/2005 12:21:15 PM

Ron Paul and.........

shit that's about it.

11/22/2005 12:23:45 PM

Quote :

"he blames, are you ready, the media"

So the media has replaced law enforcement and the judiciary?

11/22/2005 12:30:29 PM