Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Montana) is not a target of the Jack Abramoff investigation, a staffer said.

Speculation has grown that Burns may be next to fall after Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) pleaded guilty. But the staffer said Burns' criminal defense attorney was told by the Department of Justice that he is not a target.

Burns serves as chairman of the Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittee, which handles Indian funding. He helped secure a $3 million appropriation for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan, one of Abramoff's former clients.

The 2004 Interior appropriations bill contained other provisions that favored Abramoff's clients. Observers say that pattern fits the one that prompted Ney to plead guilty.

Get the Story:
Burns not target, staffer tells public (The Billings Gazette 9/20)
Parties clash over Abramoff inquiry (The Great Falls Tribune 9/20)

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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