Via Breitbart/AP:

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud, clearing the way for him to cooperate in a massive government investigation of influence peddling involving members of Congress.

He faces 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Here’s the summary of charges:

Conspiracy: Abramoff and partner Michael Scanlon conspired to defraud Indian tribes in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Texas of millions of dollars. Abramoff made roughly $20 million in hidden profits from the scheme. Scanlon pleaded guilty to related charges in November.

Abramoff also gave money, trips, meals and entertainment to public officials and their relatives in return for favorable treatment of his clients. The government says one member of the House of Representatives, identified elsewhere as Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, received a “lavish trip to Scotland to play golf on world-famous courses” and other benefits in exchange for the congressman’s support on various issues. Ney has denied any wrongdoing.

In addition, Abramoff arranged for one of Ney’s former staff members to lobby the congressman in 2002 before the staffer’s one-year ban on lobbying had expired.

Mail Fraud: Abramoff arranged for a $50,000 check to be sent through the mail from Texas to pay for the Scotland golf trip.

Tax Evasion: Abramoff filed a tax return for 2002 that concealed his illegal income.

Abramoff was also expected to plead guilty to two additional federal charges in Florida, stemming from a 2000 purchase of a fleet of gambling boats, his attorney said.

Lefty blog Americablog has copies of the plea bargain agreement and indictments.

The Christian Science Monitor says Capitol Hill is sweating–as well they should be:

n exchange for his guilty pleas, in both the Washington case and a separate Florida case in which he was indicted last year, Mr. Abramoff will cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating members of Congress, Capitol Hill aides, and other lobbyists. Political players with ties to Abramoff and his network, who knew the lobbyist was preparing to cut a deal, have been sweating for months. Now they’re sweating harder.

Though members of both parties are involved, analysts expect Republicans - who control both houses of Congress - to bear the brunt of the political fallout. Abramoff, who has close ties to former House majority leader Tom DeLay of Texas, allegedly funneled campaign donations to lawmakers, who were treated to lavish trips and meals, in exchange for official acts.

“It could end some careers,” says Jennifer Duffy, an analyst at the non- partisan Cook Political report.

Stanley Brand, a Washington defense lawyer and former Democratic counsel to the House, predicts at least six members of Congress and at least as many staff will be convicted by the end of the year.

Besides Representative DeLay, who is already under indictment in Texas, other members who are already battling allegations over their associations with Abramoff include Sen. Conrad Burns (R) of Montana, Rep. Bob Ney (R) of Ohio, and Rep. John Doolittle (R) of California.

Federal campaign records show that about 220 members of Congress received some $1.7 million in political contributions from Abramoff and his associates and clients, including American Indian tribes, between 2001 and 2004. According to Bloomberg news service, 201 of those members are still in Congress; Republicans received 64 percent of that money.

Since the whiff of scandal began to emerge around Abramoff, members have been rushing to return his contributions or donate the money to charity. But not everyone who ever took Abramoff-related money or perks is guilty of wrongdoing.

“It’s not enough to take a campaign contribution,” says Mr. Brand. “What’s criminal is accepting the contribution in return for an express agreement to perform an official act. Beyond campaign contributions, one can’t accept bribes or gratuities of any kind in return for official acts.” Members of the executive branch may also be implicated in the investigation, he says.

“The line between a bribe and a legal contribution is very thin, but it is that line that keeps you out of jail,” says Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. “The critical element is whether there was an understanding or agreement to take specific action in return for the money.”

As I’ve noted before, Abramoff spread his stench across both parties. But principled conservatives must call Abramoff what he is–a sleazebag plain and simple, as I’ve noted before–and condemn his criminal activities unequivocally. The guys at Ankle Biting Pundits weigh in:

I think it is time for conservative[s] to begin piling on the Abramoff thing for a couple of reasons. First, liberals are right in this instance. The fact that this hideous wretch climbed to the heights of power under GOP leadership in Washington, shoot, with the aid and comfort of the GOP leadership, is a scandal in and of itself. I was around in 1994 when we won the House and the Senate for the first time in forty years. I recall distinctly using the phrase “K Street fat cats” in mail pieces against Democrat incumbents who, while not breaking any laws by cozying up to these sleaze ball lobbyists, certainly violated common decency by allowing them to draft their legislation and fund their political operations. The GOP of the Abramoff era behaved no differently, sad to say.

Second, the Abramoff story is not over. Not by a damn sight. If you think this is just a story about a greedy lobbyist who abused his relationship with congressional leaders you better think again. Matthew Continetti’s recent chilling piece in the Weekly Standard, “Money, Mobsters, Murder[,]” ought to disabuse anyone of the idea that this story ends at money laundering.

Glenn Reynolds on the Abramoff scandal and GOP porkmania: It’s bad.

Mega round-up of blog reaction at Memeorandum.

Debbie Schlussel weighs in and pulls no punches:

I knew Abramoff, not well, but met him and immediately thought him to be a huge sleazebag. Those were my instincts, and that was back in the mid-’90s. I warned prominent friends of mine, in Congress and the private sector, not to do business with him. Some listened and recently thanked me for my warnings. Others did not and are hoping they escape scrutiny.

I told others of my suspicions that he was tied to organized crime and had something to do with the gangland style murder of Gus Boulis, from whom he bought SunCruz casinos. I said there was no way he’d have the money to pay even the small amount down on the multi-millions required for that deal. That was back in 2001. They didn’t believe me. But I was right.

Now, however, a guilty plea by Casino Jack makes it official that he is a criminal and sleaze-bucket. So on this, I am not Cassandra any more.

Read the whole thing.

Dan at GP offers another view on the “tragedy of Jack Abramoff.”

World Magazine investigates Ralph Reed’s betrayal of social conservatives.

Ed Morrissey writes: “Let the chips fall where they may.”

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Random thought: Maybe, just maybe, Beltway Republicans will finally be forced to get over their fear of challenging Abramoff pal and powerbroker Grover Norquist–not just on matters of political corruption, but on matters of national security.

Background:

What say you now, Grover Norquist?
With friends like these
Who is Faisal Gill? Pt 2 Pt 3

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Previous:

There they go again
Who’s afraid of Grover Norquist
Jack Abramoff: Sleazebag
Who’s trippin’

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