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| Bush, Republican lawmakers Dump Abramoff Donations |
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US President George W. Bush and some Republican lawmakers hastily unloaded political donations on Wednesday from former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges in Washington and fraud charges in Florida. Abramoff, 46, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges stemming from a 2000 Florida casino-ship deal, and to three federal charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, tax evasion and mail fraud on Tuesday, and agreed to cooperate in a corruption investigation that could implicate as many as 20 lawmakers. Bush's re-election campaign was giving up US$6,000 in campaign contributions connected to Abramoff, and would donate the money to the American Heart Association. Abramoff raised at least US$100,000 for the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign, but only 6,000 dollars came directly from Abramoff, his wife and one of the Indian tribes that he worked to win influence for in Washington. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, his successor Roy Blunt and some other Republican congressmen also announced Wednesday plans to give up political donations from Abramoff. House Speaker Dennis Hastert already announced on Tuesday he would give more than US$60,000 he received as political donations from Abramoff to charity. In a plea deal with federal prosecutors, Abramoff agreed to tell the Federal Bureau of Investigation about alleged bribes to lawmakers and their aides on issues ranging from Internet gambling to wireless phone service in the House of Representative. With the 2006 mid-term congressional elections some 10 months away, the political ramifications of the Abramoff probe were apparent, as Democrats have intended to make ethics a campaign issue. Over the past six years, Abramoff and Indian tribes he represented gave more than US$4.4 million in political contributions to more than 240 lawmakers, nearly two-thirds to Republicans, according to a report in Wednesday's edition of the USA Today newspaper. (Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2006) |
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