From: "Rich Gauszka" 

The Republican Party as a whole has some additional worries with the scandal.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/03/AR2006010301536
.html


But Republicans worry about two possibilities. The first is that Abramoff,
known for his close ties to DeLay, mostly implicates Republicans as a
result of his plea agreement. That could shift public attitudes sharply
against the GOP. "People are uneasy about what else is out
there," said one GOP strategist who requested anonymity to speak more
candidly about the possible political fallout.

Beyond that is a fear that the scandal and attention it could draw in the
months before the election might further sour the public on Washington and
Congress. As the party in power, Republicans know they stand to lose more
if voters take retribution in November.


"Randy"  wrote in message news:43bb4c45{at}w3.nls.net...
> 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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