ABRAMOFF, ETHICS LIKELY FACTOR IN LANDRIEU RE-ELECTION BID
5/8/2008--04:32:58 PM
THE DEAD PELICAN expects the U.S. Senate contest between State Treasurer John Kennedy and U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu to be heated. One issue that is expected to gain traction is the Landrieu connection to Jack Abramoff, former lobbyist and convicted felon.
Landrieu will likely face some difficult questions in the upcoming race on this issue.
Landrieu claims she never took money from Abramoff - even though records indicate money she received went through him. There are also questions about Landrieu hiring a former Abramoff staffer that was instrumental in funneling Abramoff's money- an ethically suspect move during a reelection campaign. Details below.
LANDRIEU, JACK ABRAMOFF AND INDIAN TRIBES
From 2001 – 2004
Mary Landrieu Received Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars From Associates And Clients Of Embattled Lobbyist Jack Abramoff
o According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, “Louisiana members scrambled to downplay their relationship to Abramoff and his associates Thursday after The Associated Press reported that the group gave $843,000 in political campaign contributions to House and Senate members between 2001 and 2004.”
o “U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., was locked in a bitter Senate race in 2002, and is listed by The Associated Press as receiving $32,000 in contributions from tribes or the lobbyists.”
In March 2002, Landrieu Sent A Letter To Block An Indian Tribe From Building A Casino That Could Have Cut Into The Business Of Abramoff’s Tribal Clients…
o According to the Associated Press, “While Congress investigated Jack Abramoff’s efforts to win influence inside government, its members held a secret: Nearly three dozen lawmakers pressed to block a Louisiana Indian casino while collecting large donations from the lobbyist and his tribal clients.
“Many Lawmakers, including leaders in both parties, intervened with letters to Interior Secretary Gale Norton within days of receiving money from tribes represented by Abramoff or using the lobbyist’s restaurant for fundraising, an Associated Press review of campaign report, IRS records and congressional correspondence found.”
o “The tribes, including the Louisiana Coushattas and Mississippi Choctaw, were trying to block the Jena’s gambling hall for fear it would undercut business at their casinos.”
o The article continued, “Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who was engaged in a tight re-election race in 2002, sent her letter March 6, 2002.”
…And Received Campaign Contributions From The Louisiana Coushattas On The Same Day Her Letter Was Sent To The Dept. Of The Interior
o An Associated Press article indicated that, “Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who was engaged in a tight re-election race in 2002, sent her letter March 6, 2002. That same day, the Coushattas sent $2,000 to her campaign and she received $5,000 more by the end of that month. By years end, the total had grown to at least $24,000.”
When Questioned About The Money, Landrieu Said She Did Not Receive Any Money Directly From Abramoff…
o According to a Baton Rouge Advocate article, “Brian Richardson, a spokesman for Landrieu, said Thursday that she never met Abramoff or received any money directly from him, though the tribes did give.
“He added that the Norton Letter was sent based on input from the community and constituents. “‘There was no connection’ between the contributions and the letter, Richardson said. ‘Many Tribes give money in election years.’”
…But Email Records Indicate That A Contribution From The Coushatta Tribe Flowed Through Abramoff’s Lobbying Firm Before It Went To Her Campaign
o According to a commentary in The New Republic:
“Indeed it appears that many tribal contributions physically passed through Abramoff’s hands before landing in the accounts of their congressional recipients. Consider an October 21, 2002, e-mail given to me earlier this year by a Coushatta official. It was sent by Bringham Pierce, a subordinate at Abramoff’s law firm, Greenberg Traurig, to another Coushatta official:
“Hello Erick, I have a check (#001117) made out to Walsh for Congress Committee of $2,000.
I need this check to be re-written to read: Future Leaders PAC
The Fec # is C00269407
Address of the PAC: 1155 21st St. NW Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20036
Please send us the check here at our address:
Attention: Bringham Pierce/Stephanie Short
Greenburg Traurig LLP
800 Connecticut Ave. Ste 500
Washington DC, 20006
I also submitted an earlier verbal request via phone to have Check #001071 to be re-cut to read: Louisiana Senate 2002 instead of ‘Friends of Mary Landrieu.’ The amount is also $2,000.00
If you could please follow-up with that request as well, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for you[r] help. Bringham”
o Louisiana Senate 2002 was a joint fundraising committee for Landrieu.
The Donation Was “Obviously Abramoff’s Handiwork”
o According to a New Republic commentary, “In other words, these donations were obviously Abramoff’s handiwork.”
“Abramoff’s Handiwork” Contributions Were Funneled Through Stephanie Leger-Short, Who Is Currently A Landrieu Staffer
o Leger-Short was listed by the Washington Post as a member of “Team Abramoff” in a chart released in December 2005. o According to an email revealed through a commentary in The New Republic, Stephanie Short was responsible for Coushatta contributions at Abramoff’s firm, Greenburg Traurig, where they were then dispensed to candidates’ campaign accounts.
o As of Aug. 20, 2007, Stephanie Leger is listed as the Deputy Projects Director on Landrieu’s official office Web site.
MARY LANDRIEU HIRES “TEAM ABRAMOFF” PERSONNEL
Mary Landrieu’s Web Site Indicates She Hired Stephanie Leger To Work In Her Office As Special Projects Deputy
o According to Landrieu’s official Senate Web site, Stephanie Leger is under the “Meet My Team” link on her site as the Deputy Projects Director.
Leger Was Part Of “Team Abramoff”
o According to a Washington Post chart released in December of 2005, Leger was listed under the title “Who Is Team Abramoff?” o The qualifications to be listed on the chart are, “The following individuals lobbied for tribal clients of Jack Abramoff and, along with some of their spouses, contributed money to politicians.”
Abramoff Pleaded Guilty Of Bilking Indian Tribe Clients Out Of Millions…
o According to Gannett News Service, “Abramoff has pleaded guilty to bilking his Indian tribe clients of millions of dollars and trying to bribe members of Congress with gifts, trips and other perks.”
…And Leger Was Responsible For Adding A Million Dollars To An Indian Tribe Year-End Lobbying Report For “Expenses They Had Politically”
o According to Gannett News Service, “In January 2002, Abramoff also gave Leger Short the job of preparing a year-end lobbying report for the Coushattas. E-mails show Abramoff asked Leger Short to make sure she added $1 million in ‘expenses they had politically’ to the Coushatta report.”
Leger Was Involved In A Plan To Have Christian Conservative Groups Mount A Phone Campaign To Raise Opposition For Rival Tribes To Open Casinos o According to Gannett News Service, “E-mails released by the Indian Affairs Committee, show Leger Short was involved in Abramoff’s February 2002 plan to have Ralph Reed and other Christian conservatives mount a phone campaign to raise public opposition to the opening of a casino by rival tribes, including Louisiana’s Jena Band of Choctaw Indians.”
Leger Was Referred To The Justice Department For Taking Improper Payments And Violating Company Policy At Her Lobbying Firm
o According to Gannett News Service, “In November, Fred Baggett, Abramoff’s former boss at Greenberg Traurig, told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that Leger Short, and three other Abramoff associates took improper payments in violation of company policy and have been referred to the Justice Department.”