Puckerbutt in DC
Scariest Words in Washington: Cooperation and Plea
Michael Scanlon pleaded guilty by information today in Federal Court to a charge of conspiracy, according to the NYTimes.
Mr. Scanlon agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes, The Associated Press reported from the courtroom, and could face up to five years in prison.
Mr. Scanlon, 35, was accused of conspiring to defraud Indian tribes out of millions of dollars as part of a lobbying and corruption scheme that involved wining and dining of some lawmakers, treating them to lavish trips and contributing to their campaigns.
Until recently, Mr. Scanlon occupied a powerful – and lucrative – position at the intersection of political power and lobbying influence. For several years, he worked as a top aide to Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the Republican majority leader. He left Mr. DeLay’s office in 2000 to become an associate of Jack Abramoff, a Republican lobbyist.</i>
Guess the 2 or 3 folks in Washington that weren’t sweating the Fitzgerald grand jury can have their own day in spotlight.
Ha.