Another Administration Official Bit By Abramoff Probe

AP reports that Monday Robert Coughlin -- the former deputy chief of staff of the Justice Department's criminal division -- was accused "of providing assistance from 2001-2003 to a lobbyist and the lobbyist's firm while receiving gifts from the firm and discussing prospective employment there." The lobbyist firm was run by Jack Abramoff; in 2006, he pled guilty to mail fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy.

The Justice Department probe of Abramoff has led to convictions of David H. Safavian, the procurement chief for the Office of Management and Budget; Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH); and former Deputy Interior Secretary Steven Griles. Ney's aide avoided jail; a Cato columnist linked to Abramoff resigned; former Karl Rove aide Susan B. Ralston resigned. At least one current member of Congress, Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) remains under investigation.