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Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down?

By Jeralyn, Section Corruption Cases
Posted on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 01:02:28 PM EST
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A reader at Josh Marshall's TPM made a good catch. Last night's Associated Press article on Jack Abramoff's impending plea deal said:

Abramoff’s cooperation would be a boon to an ongoing Justice Department investigation of congressional corruption, possibly helping prosecutors build criminal cases against up to 20 lawmakers and their staff members.

Overnight it was changed to:

Abramoff's cooperation would be a boon to an ongoing Justice Department investigation of congressional corruption, possibly helping prosecutors build criminal cases against up to 20 lawmakers of both parties and their staff members. (enphasis added.)

As for whether Abramoff will try to take down Democrats as well as Republicans, I'd look to whom he blames most for his current predicament. As he's now having his come-to-jesus moment with the all but inevitability of his spending the next several years in a federal prison, don't count out simple revenge. Who didn't help him when they should have, who let him crash and burn, who dropped him like a hot-potato, and who tried to save their hide at his expense?

Memory is a tricky thing. It changes over time and becomes inflated. What Abramoff remembers now while under the prosecution's gun of 'cooperate or spend more time in jail' may or may not really have happened. There's plenty of opportunity to tar those he hates and spare others. I would view all of his future cooperation with a jaundiced eye, unless there's hard evidence in addition to his statements to back it up.

The Washington Post has much more on Abramoff today as well as a primer and a handy guide to key players.

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    Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? | 7 comments (7 topical)
    Re: Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 03:25:19 PM EST
    Maybe the Bush Justice Department's deal is that he name Democrats and minimize Republicans corruption?

    Re: Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 03:37:34 PM EST
    I hope you're right, and that Casino Jack will turn on the Republicans. I am afraid that he may be just as likely to remain loyal to his party as he heads to club fed and protect them while serving up all the dems he can. Jack might only "remember" those republicans that he has to based on what he thinks the feds have, while implicating every dem he possibly can to make this a "bipartisan" scandal. Then he can become a Republican hero like Liddy, Colson, North, and others, whose criminality has seemed to enhance their popularity (and their net worth). Jack is a true believer, and may take one for the team. Or maybe he'll do it for his favorite cause - himself. Who knows what he's been promised by the right? Monetary payoffs? A pardon? Assurances of continued inside access and wealthy lobbying clients? Of course, this is a very dangerous game to play with Federal Prosecutors, provided that the career prosecutors are calling the shots rather than Abu Gonzales and the political appointees. This group of Republican operatives, including the WH, the RNC, the DOJ, and their K Street funding apparatus have demonstrated hubris that is far beyond any other political criminals I've ever seen. I almost expect them to try to fix this like they have everything else.

    Re: Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? (none / 0) (#3)
    by Rational on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 04:37:49 PM EST
    What I would be concerned about is what is the price for a pardon 3 years from now? He's going down. No question. So why not twist the truth and use him to destroy the opposition on his way down in exchange for a pardon after the election and before the inaugration by a truly "lame" duck president.

    Re: Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? (none / 0) (#4)
    by ras on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 07:36:42 PM EST
    You're moving the goalposts before the game even begins on this one, TL. Nor is it a good sign for the Dems when the conspiracy theorists are out already.

    Re: Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 08:17:19 PM EST
    I personally love that the baseball photo you included with this post was of a Long Beach State baserunner sliding in. You know what the LBSU baseball team nickname is, right? The Dirtbags. Fitting for Abramoff.

    Re: Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? (none / 0) (#6)
    by ras on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 08:38:06 PM EST
    Charlie, If you were able to dismiss me, how come I'm still here? Keep tryin' tho!

    Re: Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Dadler on Sat Dec 31, 2005 at 09:44:34 PM EST
    Ras, Dirtbags is good, tho. No? Be honest, baby. Admitted. (Opposite of dismissed.) Go Canucks. Wait, I'm a Kings fan.

    Abramoff: Whom Will He Tag on the Way Down? | 7 comments (7 topical)