Sen. Reid calls US Congress 'most corrupt in history'

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Suzanne Johnson <sjohnson () pobox com>
Date: December 19, 2005 7:16:21 PM EST
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Sen. Reid calls US Congress 'most corrupt in history'

> Sen. Reid calls US Congress 'most corrupt in history'
>
> By Thomas Ferraro, Reuters
>
> Sun Dec 18, 1:33 PM ET
>
> U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid called the Republican-led
> Congress "the most corrupt in history" on Sunday, and distanced  
> himself
> from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, at the center of an escalating probe.
>
> The Justice Department is investigating whether Jack Abramoff directed
> illegal payoffs to lawmakers, including Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas,  
> who was
> forced to step down as House Republican leader in September after
> indicted in his home state of Texas on unrelated charges.
>
> "Don't lump me in with Jack Abramoff. This is a Republican scandal,"
> Reid told Fox News Sunday, saying he never received any money from
> Abramoff.
>
> Reid, like many members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, has
> received campaign contributions from Abramoff clients. Some lawmakers
> have returned those donations, but Reid gave no indication he would do
> so.
>
> The Securities and Exchange Commission has been examining stock  
> sales by
> Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, and last
> month Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a California Republican, resigned from
> the House after pleading guilty of taking more than $2.4 million in
> bribes involving defense contracts.
>
> Democrats have accused Republicans of "a culture of corruption," and
> plan to make it an issue in next year's congressional elections.
>
> "America can do better than what we've done," said Reid. "The most
> corrupt Congress in the history of the country. We have such  
> significant
> problems with what's going on in this country."
>
> Most of the federal investigative focus is now on Abramoff, whose
> lobbying activities, particularly on behalf of Indian tribal clients,
> are also being examined by Congress.
>
> Appearing on Fox TV, Reid said, "Abramoff gave me no money. His firm
> gave me no money. He may have worked (at) a firm where people have  
> given
> me money."
>
> A Reid aide later explained that the senator received money from a
> political action committee affiliated with a firm where Abramoff had
> worked, but Abramoff did not contribute to it.
>
> "I feel totally at ease that I haven't done anything that is even  
> close
> to being wrong," Reid said.
>
> Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited.
> Copyright © 2005 Yahoo! Inc.
>
> URL:
> http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051218/pl_nm/congress_ethics_dc_2
>
> ~~


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