Dec

31

Politics1 - American Politics, Elections, Candidates & Campaigns

[From Politics1.com]

ABRAMOFF SCANDAL. There must be lots of very nervous people on Capitol Hill this weekend — elected officials and key GOP staffers alike. According to numerous news sources, indicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s lawyers and federal prosecutors in Miami have reportedly agreed upon nearly all the terms of a plea deal. Both sides met briefly with the federal judge on the case on Friday to go over some key elements of the deal. They are expected to formally announce the completed plea deal on Tuesday. In related news, Congressman John Doolittle (R-CA) appears now to actually be one of the purported targets of the investigation. What does this mean for the 2006 elections? Former US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay still runs for re-election, especially as he’s already qualified for the ballot (and filing in Texas closes on Monday) — but I’d be surprised if he attempts to regain his leadership spot in January. As for Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH) — and a likely looming federal indictment — I’d peg the odds a 50/50 that Ney decides to retire. US Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Doolittle? About a 1-in-3 chance that either or both decide to retire, too. And, if Abramoff talks about former Christian Coalition Executive Director Ralph Reed’s purported collusion in Abramoff’s questionable Indian gaming activities, Reed’s campaign for Georgia Lieutenant Governor will be fatally wounded. Who else will be implicated or indicted? Who knows … but this is clearly the biggest Hill corruption scandal since ABSCAM broke in 1980 … and this is going to get very interesting very soon.
Posted by Ron Gunzburger - 12.31.05

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