Abramoff speaks

March 8, 2006

Think Progress got an advance look at an in-depth interview (.pdf) Vanity Fair did with the man of the hour, Jack Abramoff. There are some fascinating insights in the piece, with Abramoff describing his relationships with practically all of the Republican establishment, “including some not typically associated with the Abramoff scandals like Ken Mehlman and Newt Gingrich.”

There’s plenty to chew on here, but it’s the connection between Abramoff and Bush that may be the most important.

“I, frankly, don’t even remember having my picture taken with the guy,” [Bush] has said. But how about those 10 or so photographs of him with Abramoff, or with Abramoff’s sons, or of Laura Bush with Abramoff ‘s daughters, apparently taken during all of those meetings that never took place?

And the time when the president joked with Abramoff about his weight lifting: “What are you benching, buff guy?”

The White House has insisted for months that the president has no idea who Abramoff is. If they met at all, the Bush gang says, it was random and impersonal.

Abramoff seems anxious to start telling the world a different story. It could become quite a headache for the White House.

Just another example, or 20 examples, of hundreds of examples, of the Bush Crime Family’s habit of lying. We’re used it by now. Elected Democrats never raise an issue with it.

  • What do you think the chances are of Abramoff meeting an untimely demise soon?

  • Unless we get a major shift in Congress in November or some real action on the legal front happens, I’m beginning to think that none of it will matter. The evidence of wrongdoing is right out there before the public, especially the wiretapping, but the Republican stranglehold on every arm and branch of government is preventing even that from being investigated.

    I am totally bummed today. Maybe tomorrow will be better. 🙁

  • Thanks for the link to the VF story. Jack Abramoff is revolting and gives Jews a bad name. The bum works to promote apartheid and slave labor, steals $20 million and has the balls to invoke God’s name? Get lost. The judge would have to be out of his mind to let this sociopath anywhere near an inner city school or a reservation.

    The VF story refers to Abramoff and Kidan leading a “group of investors” in the Sun Cruz sale. My understanding is that Kidan, Abramoff and Ben Waldman were the only investors.

    I wonder where Gus Boulis parked his $60 million from the sale of Sun Cruz? I read somewhere that he was told that Sun Cruz could eventually go public and he would make a killing. The Sun Cruz lenders, despite any of their protests to the contrary, knew Abramoff and Kidan didn’t pay the $20 million to Boulis when the sale closed.

    I am still curious about who is behind International Interactive Alliance (IIA). IIA “donated” $500k to Abramoff’s foundation in 2003. I believe IIA gave Amy Ridenour and her National Center for Public Policy Research $1.5 million through Greenberg Traurig, too. (The Center should lose its not-for-profit status for laundering money, imho.)

    According to Abramoff’s foundation’s 990, the address of IIA is: Asia House, 4 Weisman St., Tel Aviv, Israel 64329. But IIA is supposedly an industry group based in Gibraltar. I found one reference to IIA in a London prospectus for a gambling company dated September 2005. The company, 888, claims to be a founding member of IIA.

    I think that judge in Florida should wait until Abarmoff is talked out before sentencing him. He’s got a lot more to tell us.

  • Did anyone look at the Corner and see their defense of Bush in all of this?

    http://corner.nationalreview.com/
    posted at 2:50 March 8

    I am amazed at how they can easily dismiss everything. Of course, the truth probably isn’t as bad as we all think it is but Byron York will swallow anything to defend Bush. or so it seems

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