Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) is having a hard time distancing himself from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and a lot of it has to do with Burns' own actions.
Burns blamed the media for reporting that he is part of the federal investigation into Abramoff. But a former staffer confirmed that he has been contacted by the Department of Justice and Burns said he has no way of knowing whether he is or isn't being scrutinized.
Burns stayed in the news last week after Jodi Rave of The Missoulian and other outlets reported that he was throwing a birthday bash/fundraiser at a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. The firm -- Cassidy & Associates -- happens to be the one that hired Abramoff after he was forced to resign from Greenberg Traurig. Abramoff no longer works there and Burns has decided to move his celebration.
But Burns ties to lobbyists and Abramoff remain. His campaign manager is Mark Baker, a former staffer who is now a lobbyist for the telecommunications industry. Baker's clients also include the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the S&K Technologies, a tribal enterprise.
As part of his re-election campaign, Burns sent out a packet of information detailing his work for Montana. But the packet included a column by Peter Ferrara, a writer who admitted he was paid by Abramoff to write favorable columns about Abramoff's clients and interests.
The column was about the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory and former client of Abramoff's. Burns met with a Marianas official and changed his position about a bill affecting the islands around the same time as he accepted a $5,000 donation, the Associated Press reported.
Get the Story:Burns packet includes column by paid-off writer (The Billings Gazette 1/21)
Island official tied to lobbyist met with Burns (The Billings Gazette 1/21)
Burns' campaign chairman also a telecom lobbyist (The Great Falls Tribune 1/22)
Senator faces battle in Montana over Abramoff ties (AP 1/22) Relevant Links:
Sen. Conrad Burns - http://burns.senate.gov
Montana Republican Party - http://www.mtgop.org
Montana Democratic Party - http://www.montanademocrats.org Related Stories:
Sen. Burns won't hold birthday bash at lobbying firm (1/20)
Editorial: Burns should take lead on lobbying reform (1/20)
Jodi Rave: Burns to celebrate birthday with lobbyists (1/19)
Sen. Burns to recycle Abramoff donations again (1/19)
Blackfeet tribal college won't take Burns money (1/19)
Montana-Wyoming council rejects Abramoff cash (1/18)
Former Burns staffer confirms investigation by DOJ (1/18)
Jodi Rave: Sen. Burns ignored Cobell, tribal issues (1/17)
Sen. Burns losing support among Montana voters (01/12)
Tribal colleges happy to receive Abramoff donations (01/11)
Sen. Burns blames media for Abramoff story (1/10)
Editorial: Burns, Baucus and Rehberg were bought (12/22)
Abramoff still an issue for Montana politicians (12/21)
Editorial: No more nasty politics on Montana? (12/21)
Burns staffer went on Abramoff Super Bowl trip (12/21)
Ex-Abramoff associate pleads guilty in Montana (12/21)
Sen. Baucus returns $19K in Abramoff donations (12/20)
Another Republican returns Abramoff donations (12/19)
Burns to return $150K in Abramoff donations (12/16)
Editorial: Burns should return Abramoff donations (12/15)
Burns already spent donations from Abramoff (12/14)
Former Burns aide talks with Abramoff investigators (12/13)
Editorial: Don't hate Burns, hate the system (12/12)
Burns wishes Abramoff had 'never been born' (12/9)
Opinion: Burns worried about public opinion (12/9)
Sen. Burns to launch Abramoff offensive in January (12/8)
Sen. Burns wants name cleared in Abramoff probe (12/7)
Staffer for Sen. Burns went to work for Abramoff (12/05)
Ex-Abramoff associate charged in Montana for poaching (08/19)
Sen. Burns took $34K from ex-Abramoff client (11/30)
Abramoff probe spreads to members of Congress (11/28)
Abramoff probe looking into Congress, Bush (11/25)
Montana Democrats to run ads against Burns (11/22)
Ex-Abramoff associate charged in Montana for poaching (08/19)
Democrats to make change to Burns, Abramoff ad (08/10)
Democrat ad criticizes Burns for ties to Abramoff (8/9)
Democrats received donations from Abramoff tribes (06/03)
Bloomberg: Abramoff tribes gave $1.4M to Congress (05/19)
Sen. Burns: Support for Montana tribes is known (04/18)
Burns says Michigan delegation backed school funds (04/04)
Editorial: Burns has chance to restore Indian funds (3/31)
Democrats want Burns to return tribal donations (03/29)
Burns denies wrongdoing for helping Abramoff client (03/24)
Chairman: Montana tribes support Senator Burns (3/18)
Editorial: Facts don't look good for Senator Burns (03/14)
Editorial: Burns needs better story on Abramoff flap (3/8)
Firm offers $9M refund to Saginaw Chippewa Tribe (3/7)
Editorial: A 'Super Bowl' earmark for tribe (3/7)
Editorial: Burns 'enriched' by Abramoff and tribes (3/7)
Horse Sense: Burns and Baucus 'cozy' with lobbyists (3/7)
Burns promises cooperation with Abramoff probe (3/4)
Editorial: Who do you work for, Senator Burns? (3/4)
Burns looking into Abramoff ties, Dorgan denies link (3/2)
Burns, Dorgan backed $3M grant for Abramoff client (3/1)
Tribal lobbying scandal hurts ex-Abramoff firm (02/17)
Sag Chip recall targets anti-Abramoff tribal leaders (02/11)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Documents detail lobbyists' role in tribal elections (10/04)
More hearings slated in tribal lobbyist scandal (09/30)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set (8/26)
Saginaw Chippewa leader who paid lobbyists ousted (06/04)
Indian Country awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe wonders where $14M went (04/20)
Saginaw Chippewa Tribe hires new lobbying firm (03/09)
GOP lobbyist scores big with tribes (04/03)
Embattled tribe gets new lobbyist (12/13)