Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff "exerted implicit control" over Sen. Conrad Burns (R), according to a Republican media consultant and friend of Abramoff's.
Monty Warner says Burns' staff ate so many free meals at Abramoff's restaurant that people joked they would have "starved to death" without Abramoff. "Frankly, it was widely viewed in D.C. that Mr. Abramoff effectively exerted implicit control over Mr. Burns whenever he and his team needed to get something accomplished," Warner wrote in a letter sent to Montana media outlets.
Abramoff boasted of his influence with Burns in a Vanity Fair story this year. ""Every appropriation we wanted, we got," he told the magazine.
Burns serves as chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee, which handles funding for Indian programs. The 2004 bill contained at least 3 provisions favorable to Abramoff's tribal clients.
Get the Story:
Abramoff friend describes Burns staff's ties to lobbyist
(The Billings Gazette 10/31)
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Relevant Links:
Jon Tester for US Senate - http://www.testerforsenate.com
Conrad
Burns for Senate - http://www.conradburns.com
Sen.
Conrad Burns - http://burns.senate.gov
Montana
Republican Party - http://www.mtgop.org
Montana
Democratic Party - http://www.montanademocrats.org
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