SOURCE: Abramoff Considered Hastert ‘A Reliable Ally For His Clients’
SOURCE: Abramoff Considered Hastert ‘A Reliable Ally For His Clients’
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) continues to deny he is under investigation in the Jack Abramoff conspiracy case, despite an ABC report by Brian Ross saying he is “in the mix.”
But Kim Eisler, national editor of the Washingtonian magazine and friend of Abramoff, told Think Progress that “Jack considered Hastert a reliable ally for his clients.”
Abramoff evidently trusted Hastert enough to have him help one of his tribal clients in Louisiana, far from Hastert’s district in Illinois. The client, the Coushatta tribe, opposed a plan by the Jena Band tribe to open a competing casino in Louisiana. Abramoff successfully lobbied his congressional allies to write a June 10, 2003, letter to then Interior Secretary Gail Norton opposing the casino. Co-signers on the letter included Hastert and Reps. Tom DeLay (R-TX), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Eric Cantor (R-VA), a group of people “who do not normally weigh in on Indian issues.”
Note that Abramoff held a fundraiser for the Speaker on June 3, a week before Hastert signed the letter. At that event — hosted at Abramoff’s restaurant — Abramoff’s firm and tribal clients gave at least $21,500 to Hastert’s PAC. Eisler also tells Think Progress that “the pictures of Bush that I saw at Jack’s house several months ago, many of them were taken at a Hastert fundraiser.”
It’s hard to imagine that the FBI could responsibly investigate Abramoff’s corrupt dealings without putting Hastert “in the mix.”
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49 Responses to “SOURCE: Abramoff Considered Hastert ‘A Reliable Ally For His Clients’”
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The slime content of the Repugnican Party obviously knows no bounds. And before a Repugnican comes back and slams that comment…remember…Bill Clinton isn’t President any more. Your boy is.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:16 pmCaption Contest!
Jack Abramoff: “Denny…how much do you love me?”
Denny: “I love you this much!”
Jack: “But, Denny, 2 weeks ago when I asked you, you stretched your arms out all the way.”
Denny: “Yeah, but that was before that Ross fella found out about our, um, relationship.”
May 26th, 2006 at 1:16 pmJohn Laesch, the democratic challenger for Mr. Hastert’s seat is speaking in front of Denny Hastert’s office today at 1:00pm in Batavia (27 N. River St.) then at the DeKalb County courthouse at 4:00pm.
I know big government, big deficit republicanism isn’t good for the American Middle Class. How ’bout you?
May 26th, 2006 at 1:24 pmCaption Contest:
May 26th, 2006 at 1:25 pmI got the name Hasturd..well.. let’s just say I dropped some brown trout about, yeh big, at Jack’ s house.
At least this blows Jefferson off the stage, for time being.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:27 pmAt least this blows Jefferson off the stage, for time being.
Comment by Citizen80203 — May 26, 2006 @ 1:27 pm
Guess this FBI investigation explains why so many Republicans were so upset about the raid on Jefferson’s office.
They may be next.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:38 pmSo this is the guy the Repubs chose to replace Delay right?
May 26th, 2006 at 1:41 pm#6
And how many of them will be playing with the shredder over the next few days?
May 26th, 2006 at 1:41 pmHis face looks like he has been on a three day bender…
Caption Contest:
uuhhhggg… that Margarita was THIS big - what was her name again- I swear I never…
May 26th, 2006 at 1:44 pmCaption Contest:
“Of course I’m not happy. Look at me, I’m a big fat slob. I’ve got bigger titties than you do. I’ve got more chins than a Chinese phonebook. I’ve not seen my willie in two years, which is long enough to declare it legally dead. “
May 26th, 2006 at 1:45 pmCaption Contest:
May 26th, 2006 at 1:46 pm”If anyone out there is taking the lunch order;, I’ll have a 3ft. sub,…’bout this big’….,a bucket of greeezy chicken smothered in gravy,a couple bags of chips, and a pan of brownies for the road.”
Denny boy just resign as Speaker of the House immediately!
May 26th, 2006 at 1:46 pmThis is a little off-topic, but Hastert really bugs me. All politics — aside he a fat, sloppy-looking motha. He’s ‘Orca fat’ to quote Kevin Spacey.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:46 pmThis is a little off-topic, but Hastert really bugs me. All politics aside — he is a fat, sloppy-looking motha. He’s ‘Orca fat’ to quote Kevin Spacey.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:47 pmCaption:
May 26th, 2006 at 1:47 pmMy perch was bigger than George’s, it was this big……
Since we’re going off topic:
I’m thinking that the DNC needs to hire the marketing gurus from American Idol and see if they can create the same type of interest in politics that they can for a 29 year old grey haired dude who can’t dance but can sing well.
Perhaps hire Ryan Seacrest for the ‘08 Presidential debates.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:50 pmI guess the FBI was sending him a message: don’t criticize us we will get you!
May 26th, 2006 at 1:51 pmCaption Contest:
Why do I look like this? Are you asking me WHY?! It’s because I’ve got a hemorrhoid this big. THIS BIG!!
May 26th, 2006 at 1:51 pmCaption Contest:
May 26th, 2006 at 1:55 pm“the stack of $100’s was only this big, why pick on me?”
Thanks for the picture, y’all…
http://www.doublespeakshow.com/ 2006/ 05/ 26/ happy-memorial-day/
May 26th, 2006 at 1:56 pmAnyone else wonder just how big that flag behind must be?
Hell, one star is as big as his head.
May 26th, 2006 at 1:57 pmBobcat - I think you are on to something with the AI idea. If they can get that many people to sit and watch a show with hal-assed talent every week (or is it on twice a week) think what they could do for the DNC!!!
May 26th, 2006 at 2:02 pmAnyone else wonder just how big that flag behind must be?
Hell, one star is as big as his head.
Comment by bobcat_grad — May 26, 2006 @ 1:57 pm
Actually his “halo” has fallen a wee bit
May 26th, 2006 at 2:06 pmEverything is for sale when you represent Americans.
May 26th, 2006 at 2:11 pmHastert can drop F*CKING DEAD.
“Abramoff? Abramoff?” (snapping fingers) “Didn’t he pitch for the Nationals last year?”
Btw, Paul Krugman’s latest is up, in case you missed the morning link.
May 26th, 2006 at 2:12 pmThomas Paine wrote that being a debtor nation made America strong. But I think Paine always thought America would be loved and respected. Shame on Hastert. Shame on all of them.
May 26th, 2006 at 2:13 pmCaption Contest: “When the president said that his favorite moment in his presidency was catching a 7-pound perch, he lied - his favorite moment was forcing me to eat this big fish!”
May 26th, 2006 at 2:16 pmCaption contest
What do you mean the cell bunks are only that wide?
May 26th, 2006 at 2:18 pm#28’s the winner…
May 26th, 2006 at 2:25 pmBoy, this is going to blow (excuse the expression) his chance of becoming president after Bush and Cheney are impeachedin 2007. He was so looking forward to being able to continue the corruption of the Bush administration. Now he faces getting thrown out of office or having to resign.
ALL INCUMBENTS SHOULD EXPECT NOT TO GET RE-ELECTED THIS YEAR — 2006.
May 26th, 2006 at 2:30 pmHastert is doing what all GOP and Enron friends of the White House do say their not guilty until like Enron your found guilty. Look Americans believe that Bush is not lying to them and it worked so these guys are doing the same thing. I do feel bad for the families of the dead soldiers who still support Bush even knowing now that he lead their son’s and daughters to their death. I guess some parents love and respect the lying sinfull satan worker President Bush more then their own children. You’d think these people would stand up for their kids I notice none have done so as we lose more troops based on the lie told by Bush/Cheney. That lets the world know what Americans think of family values. In America it’s all about the money and Americans can be paid to do what this White House run by Satan worshipers tells them to do.
May 26th, 2006 at 2:30 pmI don’t care if my cell mate Bubba is hung like it…one cell down is my buddy “Kenny Boy” Lay and he’s an oil man..
May 26th, 2006 at 2:31 pmRecords detail Scotland golfing excursion by Bob Ney, Ralph Reed
By PETE YOST
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON, May 26 — Scotland travel records for Rep. Bob Ney and former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed spilled onto the public record in a federal criminal trial Friday, underscoring potential peril for politicians in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal.
http://famulus.msnbc.com/ famulusgen/ ap05-26-005801.asp?t=apnew&vts=52620061102
DRIP…DRIP…DRIP… it keeps on going like the energiser bunny, denny is gonna have a lot of cell mates to choose from
May 26th, 2006 at 2:37 pmYou could serve him as a pork sandwich and no one would suspect any difference. Greasy and fatty…
May 26th, 2006 at 2:56 pmfor anyone but a congress person (non grata) this would be bribery and a crime?
May 26th, 2006 at 2:59 pmwonder what it is to a congress persona?
wonder what it is to a congress persona?
Comment by oldtree — May 26, 2006 @ 2:59 pm
Business as usual
May 26th, 2006 at 3:02 pm[…] Today, Think Progress is reporting that Kim Eisler, friend to Jack Abramoff, says “Jack considered Hastert a reliable ally for his clients.” Abramoff evidently trusted Hastert enough to have him help one of his tribal clients in Louisiana, far from Hastert’s district in Illinois. The client, the Coushatta tribe, opposed a plan by the Jena Band tribe to open a competing casino in Louisiana. Abramoff successfully lobbied his congressional allies to write a June 10, 2003, letter to then Interior Secretary Gail Norton opposing the casino. Co-signers on the letter included Hastert and Reps. Tom DeLay (R-TX), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Eric Cantor (R-VA), a group of people “who do not normally weigh in on Indian issues.†Note that Abramoff held a fundraiser for the Speaker on June 3, a week before Hastert signed the letter. At that event — hosted at Abramoff’s restaurant — Abramoff’s firm and tribal clients gave at least $21,500 to Hastert’s PAC. Eisler also tells Think Progress that “the pictures of Bush that I saw at Jack’s house several months ago, many of them were taken at a Hastert fundraiser.†(emphasis from Think Progress) […]
May 26th, 2006 at 3:06 pmCongressmen and Senators are hypocrites for passing the Patriot Act and then complaining when their offices are searched. Do these people have brains? I think most have turned to jello, while some are lacking a spine as well, yet they OK Hayden for the CIA.
Perhaps all offices AND homes should be searched. Maybe, put them in prison for vacation too, showing them how the PATRIOT Act “works”. They certainly give themselves a lot of time off.
May 26th, 2006 at 3:08 pm#29 - I agree. ;)
May 26th, 2006 at 4:11 pmNo doubt Hastert is on the Abramaoff A-list. He’s going to be in trouble in Illinois if more of this crud seeps out and he knows it. So he will throw his considerable body weight around Washington in order to protect numerous and powerful Republicans (a few wayward Democrats) and mostly himself.
May 26th, 2006 at 5:50 pm# 38, you’re on to something. If congress was required to subject themselves to the same laws that they inflict on others - random drug testing, warrentless surveillance, not being able to get insurance coverage, maybe somebody would think twice about the laws they pass…
May 26th, 2006 at 6:56 pmHastert is going to lose a lot of weight in prison.
May 26th, 2006 at 7:08 pmTerry # 10 that was a riot of a post…..
Just another no neck, fat, bloated old white man that has had to many power breakfast’s of biscuts and gravy and been feeding at the political trouth to long……Time to boot them all out……Patty Murry has joined the ranks of ( I will not vote for when she comes up for vote) She also voted for Hayden….We need more new progressives folks…….Blessings
May 26th, 2006 at 9:49 pmHe was a high school wrestling coach from a hick suburb 40 miles west of Chicago. To think he has power is unbelievable.
May 26th, 2006 at 11:26 pmHastert is the next to fall because Abramoff has spilled the beans on Denny taking bribes in regards to Indian casinos!
May 27th, 2006 at 2:57 amJ.Dennis Hastert Is from our State he has been caught by Veterans For Progress IL in lies to the newspapers.When we caught him saying he votes veteran.No he does not we have his votes.He has only voted to cut our benefits,But he does vote what the White House want him too.He then wrote a letters again claiming he only votes on issues that are a very near vote.Nope we got him again he voted on bill that the votes where so large that it would pass in a heart beat.Speaker Hastert lies and he is covering up something hm like why did he get 70,000 for writing a letter .Show me where to sign up for that.John Leasch is running against Hastert with our support.He needs yours go to his web site at Leasch for congress you see the veteran can beat him.
May 27th, 2006 at 11:17 pmThe perfect neo-con plan.
May 28th, 2006 at 7:43 pmDeclare all of DC a Federal Prison without guards or walls. Give the politicians life sentences without parole and let the greed roll on.
Gee another REPUGLICAN caught taking bribes[who would ever thunk it].Every time someones name comes up in the Abranoff scandal they turn into Sgt Shultz {THEY KNOW NOTHING THEY SEE NOTHING THEY DID NOTHING] Give me a break ! DAVE
May 30th, 2006 at 8:46 amI write about Hastert at least twice a week.This man need to go.Vote him out he didn’t even want to run.Bush ask him.
May 30th, 2006 at 11:26 pm