The Department of Justice's Public Integrity Section is leading the criminal probe into disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, The Hill newspaper reports.

The Public Integrity Section is part of the Criminal Division at DOJ. It consists of 26 attorneys at DOJ headquarters and 94 U.S. attorneys who investigate and prosecute corruption among public officials and election and conflict of interest crimes.

Heading the Abramoff probe is Mary K. Butler, a former attorney with the U.S. Attorney�s Office in the Southern District of Florida who was part of the independent counsel�s office into former Interior secretary Bruce Babbitt. Babbitt was cleared of allegations that he rejected an off-reservation casino after wealthy gaming tribes contributed to Democratic interests.

The Public Integrity Section chief is Noel Hillman, a former assistant U.S. attorney in New Jersey. President Bush has just nominated Hillman for federal judgeship in New Jersey.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee's next hearing into the scandal takes place June 22.

Get the Story:
Abramoff case gives Justice lawyers a rare high profile (The Hill 6/15)

Relevant Links:
Public Integrity Section - http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/pin.html

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