GOP Lobbyist Gets 6 Years in Slammer

Bush fund raiser Jack Abramoff will sing for prosecutors. That's the only way a convicted felon gets the minimum sentence. And that means more Republicans will be in hot water in the months ahead.

Abramoff Gets Minimum Sentence

Former Lobbyist to Spend 5 Years, 10 Months in Prison

By Peter Whoriskey and William Branigin, Washington Post

Abramoff pleaded guilty in January to federal charges of fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. His plea deal with federal prosecutors in that case required him to cooperate with a broad federal investigation of corruption involving members of Congress, congressional staffers, other lobbyists and employees of the Interior Department and other federal agencies.Among the congressmen whose names have come up in the probe are Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), former chairman of the House Administration Committee, and Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), the former House majority leader.

Ney has been identified as the "Representative #1" who, according to court documents, received bribes from Abramoff in exchange for official acts, including congressional statements that promoted the SunCruz deal during contentious purchase negotiations. DeLay, who once described Abramoff as "one of my closest and dearest friends," took three overseas trips with the lobbyist and received more than $70,000 in political contributions from him, his associates and his Native American tribal clients. Ney and DeLay have denied any wrongdoing.

Abramoff also raised funds and made political contributions to President Bush while becoming a major player in Republican efforts to dominate Washington lobbying. He has claimed close ties to the Bush White House, although the president has publicly denied knowing him.