Blotter source: New Senate Majority leader Harry Reid "implicated" by Abramoff

Trouble in paradise may be a-brewin’:

As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.

[…]

A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff’s clients “were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid.”

Abramoff has reportedly claimed the Nevada senator agreed to help him on matters related to Indian gambling.

The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to his campaign.

Reid has denied there was any connection between the letters and the contributions and has said he is a longtime opponent of certain kinds of Indian reservation gambling.

The AP reported that Reid acknowledged “routine contacts” with Abramoff’s lobbying partners and intervening to block rival tribal casinos.

The AP also reported that Abramoff’s billing records showed extensive contact with Reid’s office over a three-year period in which Reid collected more than $68,000 from Abramoff’s firm, partners and clients.

Reid’s people, are of, course, denying all.

Prior:

Baklava says:

November 15, 2006 at 2:43 pm

I would like Harry Reid not to step down. We need this kind of culture of corruption Democrat in the position just like once KKK man Robert Byrd (Democrat of West Virginia) and William COLD HARD CASH Jefferson.

This is another example of the drive-by legacy media withholding and cherry picking information as the ends justify the means to them in their attempt at affecting the outcome of the election. They need to be put to the mat and pinned on this stuff for their negligence and activism.

Wake up America says:

November 15, 2006 at 3:08 pm

The Murtha Meltdown

Now… I have to say, I am laughing while writing this, because this is what the Democrats and those on the left and the independents that wanted to “make a statement” in the elections, asked for…well now they got it!!!!

arcman says:

November 15, 2006 at 4:40 pm

“I would like Harry Reid not to step down. We need this kind of culture of corruption Democrat in the position just like once KKK man Robert Byrd (Democrat of West Virginia) and William COLD HARD CASH Jefferson.”

The problem with that is that while Republicans force out those of us that are corrupt, it seems like people like Reid, Byrd, and Jefferson, always get a free pass. It’s time that some indictments start flowing from the Justice department, so we can get rid of some of these creeps. When all is said and done, I still think that there is way more corruption on the Dem side that the Republicans, but as far as I’m concerned, if you are in Congress and unethical or corrupt, you need to be forced out, period.

November 15, 2006 at 6:10 pm

arcman wrote, “The problem with that is that while Republicans force out those of us that are corrupt, it seems like people like Reid, Byrd, and Jefferson, always get a free pass.”

That isn’t a problem to me. I’ll gladly keep ourselves to a higher standard so that we are more attractive to the voters. Journalists will be shown to have a double standard.

arman wrote, “It’s time that some indictments start flowing from the Justice department, so we can get rid of some of these creeps.”

I’ll agree to that. I just don’t want these people to step down. I want them front and center for us to blog about and say to journalists, “no mr. journalist this is a continuing issue because he/she is still in office”

Steve Skubinna says:

November 16, 2006 at 12:42 pm

You guys just don’t get it. When Republicans take money from lobbyists it’s onviously corruption because they’re in the pocket of “special interests.”

When Dems do the same thing with the same lobbyists, it’s called “Democracy in action” because they’re attending to the concerns of “the little guy.”