From: Randy 

wonder how many aides will be cutting their own deals....

Rich Gauszka wrote:
> http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1465619
>
> WASHINGTON Jan 3, 2006 - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff will plead guilty to federal
> charges in Washington and Miami, clearing the way for him to cooperate in a
> massive government investigation of influence peddling involving members of
> Congress, lawyers said Tuesday.
>
> As part of the deal, prosecutors were filing conspiracy, fraud and tax
> evasion charges against the embattled lobbyist, a Justice Department
> official said.
>
> Abramoff was scheduled to appear at a hearing in U.S. District Court here
> later Tuesday, said department spokesman Bryan Sierra. Abramoff was expected
> to plead guilty to three charges as part of his agreement.
>
> Abramoff was then to plead guilty to two criminal charges in Florida
> stemming from a 2000 purchase of a fleet of gambling boats, said Neal
> Sonnett, his attorney there.
>
> Abramoff will plead guilty to two of the six charges in a federal
> indictment, Sonnett said.
>
> U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck has scheduled a telephone status conference
> for later Tuesday. Four other charges in Florida will remain pending.
>
> Any such plea agreement likely would secure the Republican lobbyist's
> testimony against several members of Congress who received favors from him
> or his clients. The Justice Department is believed to be focusing on as many
> as 20 lawmakers and aides.
>
> Pressure had been intensifying on Abramoff to strike a deal with prosecutors
> since former partner Adam Kidan pleaded guilty earlier this month to fraud
> and conspiracy in connection with the 2000 SunCruz boat deal in Florida.
>
> 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 two-dozen lawmakers of both parties and
> their staff members.
>
> The continuing saga of Abramoff's legal problems has caused anxiety at high
> levels in Washington, in both the Republican and Democratic parties.
>
> White House spokesman Scott McClellan could not say Tuesday whether Abramoff
> ever met President Bush. But when asked at the White House about this, the
> spokesman said that "what he is reportedly acknowledged doing is
> unacceptable and outrageous."
>
>

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