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Abramoff associates rewarded DOJ over Choctaw grant
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Filed Under: Abramoff Scandal

Associates of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff promised to give Department of Justice staffers "anything they want" after securing a $16.9 million grant for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, according to a House report.

The tribe, Abramoff's biggest client, sought the grant to build a detention facility. But a DOJ official, citing the tribe's wealth, cut the grant down to $9 million.

A lobbying campaign involving two of Abramoff's associates led a higher-ranking DOJ official to intervene and award the higher amount. After hearing the news, Kevin Ring and Padgett Wilson celebrated over e-mail.

"And as for DOJ staffers, those guys should get anything they want for the rest of the time they are in office — opening day tickets, Skins v Giants, oriental massages, hookers, whatever," wrote Wilson, who now works for Alabama Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) and cooperated with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in its investigation of Abramoff.

In its report, the committee said it was unable to get to the bottom of the Choctaw jail issue because federal prosecutors told key witnesses not to testify. A former DOJ official recently pleaded guilty for his role in the matter.

Get the Story:
Perdue staffer questioned in lobbyist Abramoff probe (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 6/11)
Abramoff to face sentencing in September (The Hill 6/10)

Related Stories:
Abramoff report cites White House influence (6/10)
Ex-DOJ official pleads guilty in Abramoff lobbying scandal (4/23)

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