Washington, D.C.
A Washington lobbyist with close ties to the Republican leadership pleaded guilty this week to conspiring to bribe members of Congress with gifts, including trips to Europe and the Super Bowl. The lobbyist, Michael Scanlon, was expected to cooperate in an investigation of his powerful former partner, Jack Abramoff. One lawmaker who has been identified as having received gifts from Scanlon and Abramoff, Ohio Republican Rep. Robert Ney, said he never traded favors for gifts, and was “duped” by the lobbyists. The Justice Department began investigating Abramoff after discovering evidence of a scheme to squeeze millions of dollars out of Indian casinos by jacking up lobbying fees. Scanlon’s plea deal sent a wave of worry through Republican ranks on Capitol Hill, where Scanlon and Abramoff have many friends. Scanlon used to work as a spokesman for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, now under indictment in an unrelated matter.
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