Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his staff drafted nearly-identical letters on off-reservation gaming that members of Congress sent to Interior Secretary Gale Norton.
The letters warned Norton not to approve a land-into-trust request in Louisiana, saying it would encourage "reservation shopping." Among those who sent the letters were Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio), Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and other top Republicans.
Rep. Jim McCrery (R-Louisiana) said he -- not Abramoff -- asked his colleagues to send letters. But the Senate Indian Affairs Committee believes they originated with Abramoff's lobbying staff.
Nevertheless, Pryce accepted $8,000 from Abramoff's tribal clients, The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported. She denies having substantial contact with Abramoff.
Get the Story:
Letter by Rep. Pryce revealed in Indian casino scandal
(The Cleveland Plain Dealer 11/4)
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Congressman
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McCain
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Order freezing Abramoff's assets lifted in lawsuit
(11/24)
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referred Abramoff (11/22)
Former Ney
chief of staff worked with Abramoff (11/19)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers
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for $32M (11/17)
Tigua Tribe to testify
at Senate lobbying hearing (11/16)
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(11/15)
Vitter 'conned' by group
opposing tribe (11/12)
GOP critic of
McCain received tribal donations (11/08)
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(10/28)
Senate panel asks Coushatta Tribe
for tapes (10/27)
Ralph Reed paid $4.1M
to oppose tribes (10/26)
Two more
lawyers linked to lobbyist scandal (10/21)
Online Chat: Abramoff 'close friend' of DeLay
(10/20)
Christian Coalition still after
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Congressman denies
knowing of tribe's backing (10/18)
Opinion: Lobbyist scandal goes all the way to Bush
(10/15)
Congressman's anti-gaming push
backed by tribe (10/15)
Tigua Tribe mum
on Washington lobbyists (10/12)
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Another tribe considers lawsuit against lobbyists
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DeLay rebuked yet again for
flaunting influence (10/7)
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Choctaw Tribe's lobbying
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(10/4)
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Washington lobbyists called before
Senate panel (9/29)
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(9/28)
Tribes told to donate to
lobbyists' foundation (9/28)
Editorial:
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Lobbyists worked for, against 'moronic' Tiguas
(9/27)
Group opposing Poarch Creeks tied
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Coushattas
used lobbyists to spy on tribes, critics (09/13)
Bush strategist now knows source of tribal
funds (09/01)
Bush strategist claims no
knowledge of funds (8/31)
Bush-GOP
strategist admits taking tribal money (8/30)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set
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Coushatta member threatened over
recall effort (08/09)
Coushatta Tribe's
lobbying records subpoenaed (07/23)
Hearing on high lobbying fees expected in
September (07/16)
GOP strategist denies
secretly taking tribal money (7/15)
Tribal money secretly funneled to GOP
strategist (06/25)
Busy Indian Affairs
Committee hits snag on big issues (06/17)
Indian Affairs Committee activity this week
(6/15)
Saginaw Chippewa leader who paid
lobbyists ousted (06/04)
Indian Country
awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)
Tribal chairman says $120K fee to Abramoff worth
it (05/18)
Republican governors
report biggest donor in 2002 (05/04)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M
went (04/20)
McCain demands documents
from lobbyist, PR exec (04/12)
Coushatta treasurer accuses NIGC of lax
oversight (04/12)
Choctaw chief
Martin defends embattled GOP lobbyist (04/09)
McCain pushing Choctaw tribe to cooperate with
probe (4/8)
Coushatta leaders used
tribal money to pay lobbyists (4/8)
Coushatta Tribe paid $32M to lobbyist Jack
Abramoff (4/6)
McCain aggressive in
pursuing lobbyist records (4/5)
McCain demands documents for tribal lobbyist's
work (3/30)
Embattled lobbyist signs
deal with another firm (03/25)
Embattled tribal lobbyist gave to Conn.
Congressman (03/10)
Saginaw Chippewa
Tribe hires new lobbying firm (3/9)
McCain begins investigation into high tribal
fees (3/4)
Pueblo governor says $1M
fee to PR firm not worth it (3/3)
McCain calls for investigation into tribal
spending (2/27)
Four tribes spent
$45M on lobbying and PR firms (2/23)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes
(04/03)
Embattled tribe gets new
lobbyist (12/13)
Politics
Letters to Norton drafted by Abramoff, staff
Friday, November 4, 2005
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