Convicted felon Jack Abramoff registers to return to lobbying

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Fri Jun 23, 2017 | 5:38pm EDT


By Ginger Gibson | WASHINGTON

Jack Abramoff, a high-profile American lobbyist who served four years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to bribing U.S. government officials, has officially returned to lobbying, according to documents he filed with the Justice Department.

Abramoff's filing, saying that in December he worked to set up a meeting between Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso and then-President-elect Donald Trump, was the first to show that he has resumed work as a lobbyist.

Federal law requires Americans acting on behalf of a foreign entity - either as a lobbyist or doing other messaging work - to register with the Department of Justice. While Abramoff told Justice that he accepted no payment for his work on behalf of Nguesso, the filings are a clear indication that he believes he met the legal definition of lobbying.

Had Abramoff done lobbying work for domestic companies before December, he would have had to disclose that to Congress. He has made no such disclosures.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-politics-abramoff-idUSKBN19E2JN?rpc=401&

[Paladin]

1. And why shouldn't he? He'll make a fortune in trump's D.C. (nt)

[warmfeet]

2. This certainly grates on me.

Does this make America grate again?

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Oh my.

How many strikes before he's out?

[Dave Starsky]

4. Well, naturally. And why not?

Apparently, blatant in-your-face criminality is now a cherished American family value. He'll be right home with the rest of our nation's leaders.

[Tanuki]

6. His partner in crime Ralph Reed has re-established himself in the swamp,

so Jack shouldn't have any trouble getting back into the swing of things.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/63568/
"Let's say it plain: Ralph Reed is a fraud.

On a recent radio show--highlighted by a blog from People for the American Way--Ralph Reed was chatting about his halcyon days as part of Jack Abramoff's lobbying machine. He recalled that his work with "Casino Jack," the once and famous king of K Street, "was outstanding, I'm proud of it, and it advanced sound public policy."

God Bless. What would that policy be? The legalized bribery of government officials?

To recap, Ralph Reed worked for team Abramoff by mobilizing Christians opposed to gambling to shutter casinos. The only hitch: Reed was usually paid by other casinos who had a financial interest in eliminating their competitors. Therefore, Abramoff needed to find a way to make Reed comfortable, and to protect him against critics and the likely fury of his own Christian followers--who might have been upset if they had discovered that Reed was being paid by gamblers to do their bidding. The solution: Abramoff laundered the Indian casino payoffs to Reed by routing them through other organizations, including Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform and a phony "think tank" in Rehoboth Beach, MD, run by a life guard and a yoga instructor who were friends of Abramoff's pal, Mike Scanlon. Details of this can be found in my film, Casino Jack and the United States of Money."....(more)

[LuckyLib]

5. Maybe Trump will offer him a high-ranking government position to go along with his

lobbying. That way Abramoff can play both sides against the middle -- something he's an expert at.

[IronLionZion]

7. Trump is creating jobs, because everyone deserves a second chance at life

[Gothmog]

8. This is not good news

[neohippie]

9. here's some background on Abramoff and the KGOP

He's like the KGOP original gangsta with connections to Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Kelly Ann Conway, Erik Prince, Trump and many many more...

A 5 page story about Abramoff's connections to Russian Oil money used to influence US politics

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/30/AR2005123001480.html

A timeline of Abramoff's work and connections to others in the KGOP that work for Russian interests here in our country

http://thegopwatchdog.com/the-untold-story-of-jack-abramoffs-russia-collusion/

More on the Russia KGOP connections


http://www.bluedotdaily.com/yes-trumps-russian-scandal-is-real-it-all-traces-back-to-one-guy/

[Judi Lynn]

10. Outstanding links. People need to learn, or remember this greedy opportunist has done. n/t

[Exultant Democracy]

11. You left Lee Atwater off that list, he's the keystone

The vision he had for the way the right would reshape america, back when he was running the college republicans with Rove and Jack as two of his top lieutenants, has come to pass.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

12. Has he served his time?

There were many recent threads at DU regarding felons in Virginia who had been convicted of non-violent felonies and who had served their time. The issue was the restoration of their voting rights. Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe was in favor. DUers were in favor.

I can find those threads.

If he's served his time, he's ready to get back on with his life.

[Exultant Democracy]

13. Crazy as it sounds in real life you'll never meet a sweeter guy.

With a wonderful family that he dotes on. I like some dem congressmen I know less than I like Jack at a personal level. That being said his politics, while better than they were before he spent some time in jail, are still terrible.

[Judi Lynn]

15. Yes, he's been out several years. Here's another article:

Convicted Felon Jack Abramoff Registers to Return to Lobbying
June 23, 2017, at 5:31 p.m.

By Ginger Gibson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jack Abramoff, a high-profile American lobbyist who served four years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to bribing U.S. government officials, has officially returned to lobbying, according to documents he filed with the Justice Department.

Abramoff's filing, saying that in December he worked to set up a meeting between Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso and then-President-elect Donald Trump, was the first to show that he has resumed work as a lobbyist.

. . .

Abramoff in 2006 pleaded guilty to felony counts of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion. His name became synonymous with government corruption, and Democrats attacked their Republican opponents who had ties or had received campaign donations from him.

In addition to bribing government officials, Abramoff was accused of defrauding clients who were Native American tribes lobbying about reservation casinos. Abramoff was released from federal prison in 2010 and was then subject to three years on probation.

More:
https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2017-06-23/convicted-felon-jack-abramoff-registers-to-return-to-lobbying

[Linda Ed]

14. Prison didn't teach him a thing

Prison obviously didn't give Abramoff enough time to think of what he did and the consequences of what he is about to do again! They say most people who go to prison usually end back within a year or two. Why is it that easy to get back into lobbying as a felon yet felons who serve prison time for other crimes can hardly get a job after they are released?

[Judi Lynn]

16. Important food for thought. I'd like to know the answer, too.

He'll probably be exactly back where he was before the law rudely interrupted his life of crime.

Can't be bothered trying to live as an honest person.