"Until recently, the office of Ralph Reed, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, issued a standard prepared denial whenever the press inquired about allegations that Reed had knowingly accepted millions of dollars from Indian tribes with gambling interests.
The statement began by acknowledging Reed's work with Greenberg Traurig, a Washington law firm that turned out to be representing Indian casinos. However, the statement went on to claim that "we had no direct knowledge of [Greenberg Traurig's] clients or interests. At no time were we retained by nor did we represent any casino or casino company."
That wasn't true.
E-mails released Wednesday by a Senate committee directly contradict Reed's claim of having 'no direct knowledge of their clients or interests.' They demonstrate that Reed clearly knew the money was coming from the Choctaw tribe of Mississippi, which ran a lucrative gambling operation and was trying to bar other tribes from opening competing casinos.
"Ralph, I spoke with our managing partner and he has approved the subcontractor arrangement . . ," says a 1999 e-mail from Jack Abramoff, a longtime Reed friend and a lawyer with Greenberg Traurig. "So, it would be very helpful if you could get me invoices as soon as possible so I can get Choctaw to get us checks asap."
Reed received, read and responded to that e-mail. Three hours later, he sent an e-mail to Abramoff listing $101,000 in expenses that he incurred on behalf of the Choctaws."
Get the Story:Editorial: Reed's bill of goods (The Atlanta Journal Constitution 6/24)
pwday Committee Exhibits:
Part 1 | Part 2 Witness List/Testimony:
Oversight Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the In Re Tribal Lobbying Matters, Et Al (June 22, 2005) Relevant Links:
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians - http://www.choctaw.org
Century Strategies - http://www.censtrat.com Related Stories:
Senate committee plans to issue lobbying report (6/24)
Under scrutiny, Choctaw tribe goes into hiding (6/24)
Mississippi Choctaws focus of Senate lobbying hearing (6/23)
Column: Wasichus testify on lobbying scandal (6/23)
Update on Senate hearing into lobbying scandal (6/23)
Mississippi Choctaws at center of lobbying hearing (6/22)
NIGA issues statement on tribal lobbying scandal (6/22)
Reed's story on Tiguas doesn't match Abramoff's (06/20)
Senate hearing to focus on Norquist and Reed (6/9)
Ralph Reed played tribes against each other (6/6)
Trail of gambling cash leads to Republicans, even Bush (6/3)
Miss Choctaws say gaming cash not used to lobby (5/31)
Column: Some questions Ralph Reed needs to answer (5/23)
Ralph Reed changes story on $1.15M tribal donation (5/20)
Editorial: Alabama Christians have lost credibility (5/19)
Gaming money went straight to Ralph Reed's pocket (5/18)
Editorials: Christian activists have explaining to do (05/16)
GOP group funneled tribal money to anti-gamblers (5/13)
Abramoff scandal an issue in Georgia campaign (05/09)
Jack Abramoff breaks silence on lobbying scandal (05/02)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe gave $25K to GOP tax group (04/25)
One GOP group won't give records to McCain (04/22)
McCain subpoenas GOP groups linked to Abramoff (04/21)
GOP critic of McCain received tribal donations (11/08)
Ralph Reed paid $4.1M to oppose tribes (10/26)
Christian Coalition still after Poarch Creeks (10/19)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Tigua Tribe tells of lobbying horror story (11/18)
Tigua Tribe mum on Washington lobbyists (10/12)
Tigua Tribe outraged over being played as 'moronic' (09/28)
Lobbyists worked for, against 'moronic' Tiguas (09/27)
Group opposing Poarch Creeks tied to tribal lobbyists (09/16)
Bush strategist now knows source of tribal funds (09/01)
Bush strategist claims no knowledge of funds (08/31)
Bush-GOP strategist admits taking tribal money (08/30)
GOP strategist denies secretly taking tribal money (07/15)
Tribal money secretly funneled to GOP strategist (06/25)