Ralph Reed, the conservative Republican activist and candidate for lieutenant governor in Georgia, recently told a Christian teen group that he regrets working with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and ex-partner Michael Scanlon.
In a speech posted on his web site, Reed doesn't mention Abramoff or Scanlon by name. But he said "we stopped casinos from opening across the South and helped to close an illegal casino in Texas that operated in open violation of state and federal law."
He also admits that he "knew the law firm had tribal clients who had their own reasons for opposing new casinos. I was assured by the law firm at the outset of the work that the funds contributed to our efforts would not derive from gambling activity."
"Nevertheless, had I known then what I know now, I would not have undertaken that work," he said on December 9 [Link].
Reed did not tell the teens how much he took from Abramoff and Scanlon. According to news reports, he was paid $4.2 million to oppose gaming in Texas and another $1.15 million to oppose gaming in elsewhere. Two gaming tribes -- the Coushatta of Lousiana and the Mississippi Band of Choctaws -- were the source of the funds.
Reed also didn't say what happened to the money or whether he would return it now that he regrets doing the work.
Get the Story:Reed admits misstep in work (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 12/16)
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Reed says he regrets working with Abramoff (AP 12/16) Relevant Links:
Ralph Reed - http://www.ralphreed.com
Century Strategies - http://www.censtrat.com Related Stories:
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