Sen. Reid Knee Deep in Abramoff Dirt; Had Secret Meetings with Lobbyist's Firm
February 11, 2006 09:35 AM EST
by Jim Kouri - Senator Harry Reid is one of the most vocal critics of Republican ties to rogue lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In one statement, he insinuated that the Republicans' behavior was similar to that of La Cosa Nostra, which drew fire from Italian-American groups.
For weeks, Sen. Reid portrayed the convicted Abramoff's activities as pertaining solely to the GOP. But Abramoff's billing records and congressional correspondence -- obtained by the Associated Press -- tell a completely different story.
The records reveal that Abramoff's lobbying team billed for nearly two dozen contacts with Reid's office in a period of one year. The discussions regarded Democratic legislation to set the minimum wage for the Northern Mariana Islands, an Abramoff client, initially almost $3 lower than other US states and territories. While Reid and other Democrats were fighting to increase the minimum hourly wage for Americans, he was secretly working with Abramoff's firm to stagnate the minimum wage for those working on the Marianas.
Reid, a Nevada Democrat, also sent several letters to the Bush administration which alledgely were beneficial to the Indian tribes Abramoff represented. Almost immediately after writing and send these letters on behalf of the lobbyist's clients, Reid garnered donations from Abramoff sources.
AP also alleges that in the midst of these contacts, Abramoff's firm hired one of Reid's top legislative aides to lobby for the tribal and Marianas clients. This same aide then helped throw a fundraiser for Reid at Abramoff's firm.
The Northern Mariana Islands, a part of the United States commonwealth, are located in the northern Pacific Ocean. Their economy is based on tourism and agriculture.
"Why aren't the Republicans demanding and investigation of Reid? Why aren't they demanding he step down as Senate Minority Leader?" asks Jerry Okhuysen, a Republican.
But Manuel Perez, a staunch Democrat said, "This is just the GOP trying to take attention away from their corruption problems." |
