Anonymous memo ties Internet gaming bill to Abramoff

Tuesday, April 20, 2010  

A document circulating among Republicans in Washington, D.C., links convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff to H.R.2267, a bill that would regulate the Internet gaming industry.

The anonymous memo suggests that supporting the bill would help Abramoff and his associates. Abramoff represented some non-tribal clients with Internet gaming interests.

"While Jack himself is now imprisoned, many of his former associates continue to carry out Abramoff’s plan to legalize Internet gambling in the United States," the memo stated, according to news reports.

No one has claimed responsibility for the memo although some lobbyists accused the Morongo Band of Mission Indians or Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Alabama) of drafting it. Both denied involvement.

"Morongo has nothing to do with this memo, categorically nothing at all,” Morongo spokesperson Patrick Dorinson told GamblingCompliance. “People should definitely get their facts straight.”

The tribe has testified against H.R.2267, saying it would hurt the tribal gaming industry. The tribe has proposed Internet poker in California under an exemption in existing federal law.

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Morongo Deny Involvement In Abramoff Memo (Gambling Compliance 4/20)
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GOP memo against Web gambling invokes Abramoff scandal (The Washington Post 4/15)