Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff told NBC Nightly News that the work he did for tribal clients, while costly, was worth it.

Abramoff said in an interview that he did not cheat six tribes who gave him, his partner and his law firm at least $82 million. "The benefit that we brought to these tribes was far in excess, by multiples of tens and hundreds, of the charges � of the costs of these efforts," Abramoff told NBC News.

Abramoff said the investigation of his activities has "been devastating on every level for me." He has refused to testify before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about his activities.

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Lobbyist linked to DeLay investigated (NBC Nightly News 4/20)

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