Ralph Reed, the Christian conservative activist who is running for lieutenant governor of Alabama, was accused of "bilking" tribes out of millions of dollars by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Appearing on "Meet the Press," this past Sunday, Cornyn was asked about his ties to Reed and Jack Abramoff. E-mails released by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee indicate Reed and Abramoff provided support for Cornyn to shut down two tribal casinos in Texas when he was the state's attorney general.
But Cornyn said he his litigation to close the casinos had nothing to do with Reed or Abramoff. "We prevailed because the law was in our favor, and then after the fact, apparently, there were these e-mails I had no knowledge of where Reed and Abramoff were somehow claiming credit and then bilking their Indian clients for millions of dollars, apparently," he said.
Reed's ties to Abramoff have become an issue in the Alabama race. His Republican opponent, state Sen. Casey Cagle, appears to be gaining more support and has out-raised Reed in the past six months. Cagle has repeatedly criticized Reed for his involvement in the scandal.
Get the Story:Supporters ask, is Reed worth the gamble? (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 1/13)
pwpwd
Candidates face public (The Gainesville Times 1/11) Relevant Links:
Read About Reed - http://www.readaboutreed.com
Stop Ralph Reed - http://www.stopralphreed.com
Ralph Reed - http://www.ralphreed.com
Century Strategies - http://www.censtrat.com Related Stories:
Editorial: Reed's Abramoff ties a legitimate issue (12/21)
Ralph Reed denies lobbying tribal issues in Texas (12/20)
Column: GOP leaders asking Ralph Reed to drop out (12/19)
Ralph Reed now regrets working with Abramoff (12/16)
Bush seeks to link Jack Abramoff to Democrats (12/15)
Groups seek probe of Reed's role in scandal (12/02)
Opinion: Tribes paid for Ralph Reed's suits (11/22)
Ralph Reed cites cooperation with McCain's probe (11/15)
Column: Ralph Reed used 'wackos' to fight tribes (11/7)
Ralph Reed fought tribes with Coushatta money (11/3)
Abramoff turned to Ralph Reed for help on tribes (10/24)
Column: Ralph Reed in same league as Abramoff (10/19)
Ralph Reed worked for Abramoff -- again (10/17)
Ralph Reed hired by Abramoff for yet another venture (10/03)
Choctaw cash flowed freely to Ralph Reed for years (7/6)
Column: Ralph Reed worshipped casino god (7/1)
Reed backs lottery proposal he fought in Alabama (7/1)
Abramoff cut Ralph Reed off from Choctaw money (6/29)
Investigation links Reed, Norquist to Abramoff (6/27)
Opinion: Ralph Reed helps launder tribal money (6/27)
Editorial: Reed lied about taking money from Choctaws (6/24)
Opinion: Reed didn't lie, he just followed the law (6/24)
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)