Washington, D.C.
Two Washington insiders close to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay are being investigated for squeezing $80 million from six Indian tribes by promising them access to influential politicians, according to a report in The Washington Post. The tribes paid Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff exorbitant fees to push for laws favoring their casinos. He used much of it to pay for luxury skyboxes at Washington sports arenas, where he held fundraisers for Republicans. Michael Scanlon, DeLay’s former spokesman, and Abramoff traded e-mails in which they mocked tribal leaders as “morons” and “monkeys.” “I want all their MONEY!” Scanlon wrote in one message. A colleague said Abramoff ran “one of the biggest schmoozing operations in town.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Political cartoons for October 18Cartoons Saturday's editorial cartoons include conversion therapy, Russ Vought, and more
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on ChicagoTalking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
Crossword: October 18, 2025The Week's daily crossword puzzle
