"Jack Abramoff�s insurance scheme was among the most recent revelations in an Indian gaming scandal that involves the two close associates of U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and six Indian tribes they were hired to represent in Washington. There�s more to come. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has held two hearings and released two stacks of supporting documents. Three federal grand juries, the FBI, and the Treasury and Interior departments are conducting less public investigations.

When the story broke in The Washington Post 10 months ago, the money collected by Abramoff and Scanlon was estimated at $41 million. Three months ago it was up to $66 million. The current estimate is $81 million. The grand juries are still out, although sources close to the investigation predict indictments after the first of the year. Much of the money, according to what Senate Indian Affairs has thus far uncovered, was fraudulently obtained. Moving to the center of the scandal is Ohio Republican Congressman Bob Ney. Attorneys representing the tribes are preparing civil law suits to recover what they claim was stolen from them. The story will be with us for a while."

Get the Story:
Lou Dubose: No Picnic at Speaking Rock (The Texas Observer 12/17)

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