Public Corruption—Potential Guilty Plea

Superstar lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who is scheduled to face trial on January 9, is reportedly in plea negotiations “in which he would plead guilty and cooperate in the wide-ranging political corruption investigation focused on his dealings with members of Congress and executive branch officials.”^[1] According to “people familiar with the talks” Mr. Abramoff “would provide testimony about numerous members of Congress and their staffs if he and the Justice Department reach an agreement.”^[2]

Last week, Mr. Abramoff’s co-defendant, Adam Kidan, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud, and to testify against his former business partner.^[3] He joins another business partner, Michael Scanlon, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe public officials a few weeks ago. When Mr. Scanlon pleaded guilty, he announced that he and Mr. Abramoff had provided travel, golf outings, meals, entertainment, campaign contributions and jobs for Congressional officials, in exchange “for ‘a series of official acts and influence.’”^[4]

The rash of guilty pleas falls in line with what we discussed yesterday. According to the Washington Post, “Justice Department investigators are looking at a half-dozen lawmakers, as well as Capitol Hill aides, former Abramoff associates and executive branch officials.”^[5] Clearly, the focus of the investigation is larger than simply Mr. Abramoff’s bribery, and the federal government is pressing on him extremely hard, and likely Mssrs. Kidan and Scanlon as well, to provide useful information about those who accepted bribes.

One such lawmaker is Ohio Representative Robert W. Ney, against whom Mssrs. Scanlon and Kidan have agreed to testify, and to whom prosecutors have told a possible bribery federal indictment is being prepared.^[6]

The current investigation into American public corruption comes at a somewhat awkward and ironic moment. The UN Convention Against Corruption just came into effect, and the Senate is now debating whether to ratify it.^[7]

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[1] Susan Schmidt, Abramoff Reportedly Negotiating a Deal in Which He Would Plead Guilty, Testify, Wash. Post, Dec. 21, 2005.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Jim Drinkard, Former DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy Case, USA Today, Nov. 22, 2005.
[5] Schmidt, supra note 1.
[6] Id.
[7] See UN Convention Against Corruption, Oct. 31, 2003, S. Treaty Doc. No. 106-9.