OK, it's autumn and the 'aspens are showing their colors, all rooted together as they are'; and, so are the Republicans. Each scandal that blows through brings cries of "It's just a few bad apples." We now have enough bad apples to sour an entire cider factory. There is a Culture of Corruption, and there is a Cover Up Congress willing to accept reports like those concerning the scandalous behavior of interrogators in Iraq, Guantanamo, and Afghanistan.
I'm not so sure this diary is for other readers as it is an admission that I'm having trouble keeping up with all the indictments, firings, trials, pleas, hearings, and dismissals.
So, I've attempted to outline some of the major players in this disreputable game that Washington politics has become, and I'd appreciate additions, corrections, and information from fellow Kossacks if I've missed some of the "rogues" or some links with more and better information.
The Rogues Gallery below--->
Jack Abramoff Lobbyist being investigated for illegal and or unethical practices, connections to Interior Department (see CREA, Gail Norton, Steven Griles, Jena Tribe, Coushatta Tribe, and Ralph Reed). Ongoing.
May 5, 2005 Lawrence Franklin Nation Juan Cole
"...the indictment alleges, Franklin passed classified information to Steven Rosen and Keith Weissman, two senior AIPAC officials. And the indictment claims Rosen and Weissman shared this information with Israel. Consequently, the indictment charges Franklin, Rosen and Weissman with "conspiracy to communicate National Defense Information under sections 793(d) and 793(e) of Title 18, United States Code. And Franklin was charged with three counts of "communication of National Defense Information"--not conspiracy--under section 793(d). He was also charged with one count of "conspiracy to communicate classified information" to a foreign government."
September 20, 2005 David H. Safavian
Washington Post
"...the first criminal complaint filed against a government official in the ongoing corruption probe related to Abramoff's activities in Washington."
the complaint alleges that Safavian lied about his contacts with Abramoff on three occasions after his initial false pledge to the GSA ethics officer. The first was during a 2003 investigation by GSA's inspector general, who was responding to an anonymous tipster's hotline complaint; the second was in a March 17, 2005, letter to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; and the third was during an FBI interview on May 26, 2005."
September 28, 2005 Tom DeLay Washington Post
"A Texas grand jury indicted House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) yesterday on a charge of criminally conspiring with two political associates to inject illegal corporate contributions into 2002 state elections that helped the Republican Party reorder the congressional map in Texas and cement its control of the House in Washington."
October 5, 2005 Roy Blunt connection to DeLay."
Tom DeLay deliberately raised more money than he needed to throw parties at the 2000 presidential convention, then diverted some of the excess to longtime ally Roy Blunt through a series of donations that benefited both men's causes.
When the financial carousel stopped, DeLay's private charity, the consulting firm that employed DeLay's wife and the Missouri campaign of Blunt's son all ended up with money, according to campaign documents reviewed by The Associated Press.
Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist recently charged in an ongoing federal corruption and fraud investigation, and Jim Ellis, the DeLay fundraiser indicted with his boss last week in Texas, also came into the picture. On May 24, 2000 -- just before DeLay left with Abramoff for the Scottish golfing trip -- DeLay's convention fundraising group transferred $100,000 more to Blunt's group. Within three weeks, Blunt turned around and donated the same amount to the Missouri Republican Party.
The next month, the state GOP began spending large amounts of money to help Blunt's son, Matt, in his successful campaign to become Missouri secretary of state. On July 25, 2000, the state GOP made its first expenditure for the younger Blunt, totaling just over $11,000. By election day, that figure had grown to more than $160,000.
..."USA Today
October 28, 2005 I.Lewis Libby Libby indicted Yahoo News Perjury, obstruction of justice, and good old fashioned lying to federal investigators. Karl Rove remains under investigation.
November 3, 2005 Ken Tomlinson resigns from PBS. "The CPB's inspector general has been investigating Tomlinson's practice of using agency money to hire consultants and lobbyists without notifying the agency's board. Tomlinson last year hired a little-known Indiana consultant to study the political leanings of guests on such programs as "Now With Bill Moyers" and "The Diane Rehm Show" on National Public Radio. He also hired lobbyists to defeat legislation that would have changed how CPB's board is structured."Washington Post
November 5, 2005 Dennis Hastert connections to Abramoff Huffington Post "In June 2003, House Speaker Dennis Hastert sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton urging her to act in favor of clients of the scandal-plagued lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported yesterday that investigators believe that Abramoff and his staff provided the congressmen with the letter's text.
Accoring to FEC reports, since 1999 Hastert has taken $49,000 from American Indian tribes while they were Jack Abramoff's clients. On June 3, 2003, Hastert held a fundraiser at Signatures, a Washington restaurant owned by Abramoff. He did not pay for the space until more than two years later, when Business Week began an in-depth investigation into use of Signatures."
January 2006 Trial begins for Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling for their roles in the Enron debacle. "Kenny Boy" was a major fundraiser for the Bush campaigns, whom the President now indicates he barely knows.