Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona) has added a $500,000 Republican donation to his investigation of high lobbying and public relations fees paid by tribes.

The Republican Governors Association reported the donation as its largest in 2002. It came from Michael Scanlon, a public relations executive who, along with Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, received $45 million in fees from four tribes. McCain wants to know whether tribal gaming interests were behind the donation.

According to The Washington Post, the RGA received two $250,000 contributions from Scanlon's Capitol Campaign Strategies firm in October 2002. During that same month, the RGA gave money to the Alabama Republican Party and to Bob Riley, who opposes the expansion of gaming and won the election.

One of the Scanlon/Abramoff clients is the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, whose casino is near the Alabama border. In Alabama, The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is trying to start Class III gaming.

Get the Story:
Probe to Include GOP Donations (The Washington Post 5/18)
pwpwd
Casino consultant donated to PAC that helped Riley (The Birmingham News 5/5)
Editorial: Did Riley get support from Indian casino money? (The Birmingham News 5/7)

Related Stories:
Republican governors report biggest donor in 2002 (05/04)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M went (04/20)
McCain demands documents from lobbyist, PR exec (04/12)
Coushatta treasurer accuses NIGC of lax oversight (04/12)
Choctaw chief Martin defends embattled GOP lobbyist (04/09)
McCain pushing Choctaw tribe to cooperate with probe (4/8)
Coushatta leaders used tribal money to pay lobbyists (4/8)
Coushatta Tribe paid $32M to lobbyist Jack Abramoff (4/6)
McCain aggressive in pursuing lobbyist records (4/5)
McCain demands documents for tribal lobbyist's work (3/30)
Embattled lobbyist signs deal with another firm (03/25)
Embattled tribal lobbyist gave to Conn. Congressman (03/10)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hires new lobbying firm (3/9)
McCain begins investigation into high tribal fees (3/4)
Pueblo governor says $1M fee to PR firm not worth it (3/3)
McCain calls for investigation into tribal spending (2/27)
Four tribes spent $45M on lobbying and PR firms (2/23)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets has new lobbyist (12/13)