Abramoff denies working against Tigua casino

Monday, August 15, 2005  

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff didn't try to shut down the Tigua Tribe's casino in Texas, a spokesperson told the Associated Press.

Abramoff was hired by the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana to shut down a different Texas casino, owned by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe. But his work "spilled over to also affect the Tiguas, which was not the goal of Mr. Abramoff or his clients," the spokesperson said.

Documents released by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee paint a slightly different picture. They suggest Abramoff was working with Christian groups in Texas to drum up support for closing the casino. In e-mails, he rejoiced when a federal court shut down the casino and then asked the tribe to hire him as its lobbyist to get it reopened.

The effort failed and the Tigua Tribe has been hurting ever since. The tribe had to fire 900 employees and has lost its major source of revenue. A cultural center opened with gaming money has been shut down and other services have been reduced to save money.

Get the Story:
Tribe's casino lobbyists prove bad bet (AP 8/15)