Jury selection begins in Abramoff scandal case
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Filed Under:
Abramoff Scandal
Jury selection begins this morning in the case of Kevin Ring, one of jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff's former associates.
Ring has been indicted on 10 felony counts of fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. He is accused of plying lawmakers, their aides and government officials with gifts and of defrauding tribal clients, most notably
Sandia Pueblo of New
Mexico.
Witnesses in the trial include John Albaugh, the former chief of staff to former Rep.
Ernie Istook (R-Oklahoma). Albaugh pleaded guilty to accepting gifts from Ring in exchange for legislative favors.
Ring wants David Ayres, the former chief of staff to former attorney general
John Ashcroft, to testify. Ayres helped secure $16.3 million for the
Mississippi Band of Choctaw
Indians, Abramoff's top client but hasn't been charged in the scandal.
Ayres has indicated he will assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The
Department of Justice has refused to grant him immunity.
The trial takes place in Courtroom 14 of the
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Get the Story:
Ex-lawmaker Ernest Istook’s former aide to testify
(The Oklahoman 9/7)
Ashcroft’s Chief of Staff Helped Secure Indian Funds (Main Justice 9/8)
Corruption trial begins for lobbyist (AP 9/8)
Relevant Documents:
DOJ Opposition |
Indictment: US v Ring
Related Stories:
Former DOJ official tied to Abramoff
investigation (9/4)
Former Abramoff associate
headed to trial (08/14)
Judge won't
dismiss charges in Abramoff case (06/26)
DOJ attorney removed from Abramoff case (6/19)
Prosecutor pulled from case of Abramoff
associate (04/21)
Another lobbyist
charged in Abramoff scandal (9/9)
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