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.
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
Tips and tricks for VeganuaryThe Week Recommends Here are some of our best recommendations for a plant-based start to the year
-
FBI bars Minnesota from ICE killing investigationSpeed Read The FBI had initially agreed to work with local officials
