About $70,000 in political contributions made by the Tigua Tribe of Texas and funneled through disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff are unaccounted, The Arizona Republic reports.

The tribe gave Abramoff a lump sum of $300,000 that he was to distribute to candidates and political committees of his choosing. Some of the money went to obscure groups.

But a good chunk of it never found its way to the intended recipients, the paper said. Out of the 79 checks written, 26 are missing. They may have never been sent or they may have been returned to Abramoff.

The discrepancy turned up during the Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigation of Abramoff and his partner Michael Scanlon. Further hearings on the matter are expected in the coming year under new chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona).

Get the Story:
Indian political donations missing (The Arizona Republic 2/6)
'Complex, tangled web' of political deals listed (The Arizona Republic 2/6)

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