Abramoff Pleads Guilty

On Tuesday, embattled lobbyist Jack Abramoff, 47, pleaded guilty to charges of mail fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy. The prominent lobbyist has close ties to several members of the Republican party, including Tom DeLay (R-TX) former House Majority Leader. News reports indicate that as many as 20 members of Congress may be implicated in the investigation, including Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH). Both Republican and Democrat congressmen have returned more than $200,000 in campaign contributions from Abramoff.

Abramoff faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, but under the plea bargain jail time is reduced by about two-thirds. Abramoff and former partner Michael Scanlon have also agreed to pay $25 million in restitution. In a separate matter, Abramoff is under investigation in Florida for his actions in buying a casino cruise line.

According to charging documents, Abramoff referred clients to Scanlon's public relations firm. Scanlon, a former aide to DeLay, returned 50 percent of his billings to Abramoff, on the sly. Reuters reports that Ney is implicated.

In 2000, DeLay travelled to Europe on tickets charged to Abramoff. Lobbyists are explicitly prohibited from funding Congressional travel.

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