Tribes whose lobbying activities are the subject of a Senate hearing gave millions to a charity run by a lobbyist who diverted the money to personal projects, including an overseas golf trip, The Washington Post reports.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, the Mississippi Band of Choctaws and the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana gave more than $2.02 million to the Capital Athletic Foundation. Tribal officials said lobbyist Jack Abramoff told them the donations would impress House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).

Abramoff created the foundation with the goal of helping needy children. But Coushatta leaders said they thought the money was instead going to Abramoff's luxury box at Redskins games.

The Post said Abramoff spent $115,930 of the charity's funds on a Jewish home-schooling program that Abramoff created and $150,225 for a golf trip to Scotland aboard a private jet. Records show that little of the money went to charitable causes.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a hearing on Abramoff and public relations consulting Mike Scanlon tomorrow.

Get the Story:
Foundation's Funds Diverted From Mission (The Washington Post 9/28)
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Relevant Links:
Capital Athletic Foundation - http://www.capathletic.org/home.html

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