Politics
Pombo asked again to investigate Abramoff


Rep. Richard Pombo (R-California), the chairman of the House Resources Committee, was asked for the second time on Thursday to investigate disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Pombo was asked by Rep. George Miller (D-California) to probe Abramoff's dealings with the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. Auditors from that government have questioned millions they paid to the lobbyist from 1994 to 2001.

Previously, Pombo was asked to investigate Abramoff's dealings with six tribes he is accused of overbilling. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which is conducting an ongoing probe, has said the tribes were bilked out of at least $82 million.

Pombo's committee has jurisdiction over Indian and island affairs. Since becoming chairman, he has received $76,500 from tribes -- including $4,000 from the National Indian Gaming Association -- according to a new website, http://www.jackinthehouse.org, created by the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics that seeks to expose Abramoff's ties with lawmakers, including embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).

Get the Story:
Miller Calls for Probe into Abramoff's Marianas Dealings (The Hill 4/14)
Congressman calls for probe of lobbyist (AP 4/14)
Bush Is Seen as Unlikely to Seek DeLay's Ouster (The New York Times 4/15)
pwnyt

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