Now (via Breitbart/AP):

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator’s staff regularly had contact with the disgraced lobbyist’s team about legislation affecting other clients.

The activities _ detailed in billing records and correspondence obtained by The Associated Press _ are far more extensive than previously disclosed. They occurred over three years as Reid collected nearly $68,000 in donations from Abramoff’s firm, lobbying partners and clients.

Reid’s office acknowledged Thursday having “routine contacts” with Abramoff’s lobbying partners and intervening on some government matters _ such as blocking some tribal casinos _ in ways Abramoff’s clients might have deemed helpful. But it said none of his actions were affected by donations or done for Abramoff.

“All the actions that Senator Reid took were consistent with his long- held beliefs, such as not letting tribal casinos expand beyond reservations, and were taken to defend the interests of Nevada constituents,” spokesman Jim Manley said.

Reid, D-Nev., has led the Democratic Party’s attacks portraying Abramoff’s lobbying and fundraising as a Republican scandal. But Abramoff’s records show his lobbying partners billed for nearly two dozen phone contacts or meetings with Reid’s office in 2001 alone.

Most were to discuss Democratic legislation that would have applied the U.S. minimum wage to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory and Abramoff client, but would have given the islands a temporary break on the wage rate, the billing records show.

Reid also intervened on government matters at least five times in ways helpful to Abramoff’s tribal clients, once opposing legislation on the Senate floor and four times sending letters pressing the Bush administration on tribal issues. Reid collected donations around the time of each action.

…Abramoff’s firm also hired one of Reid’s top legislative aides as a lobbyist. The aide later helped throw a fundraiser for Reid at Abramoff’s firm that raised donations from several of his lobbying partners. And Reid’s longtime chief of staff accepted a free trip to Malaysia arranged by a consulting firm connected to Abramoff that recently has gained attention in the influence-peddling investigation that has gripped the Capitol.

Then - Jan. 18, 2006:

Washington, DC – Jim Manley, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s Spokesman, released the following statement today on White House refusals to fully disclose meetings between top Administration officials and indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff:

“Yesterday, Senate Democrats called on President Bush to make a full accounting of Jack Abramoff’s personal contacts with White House officials over the past five years. On January 5th, Scott McClellan pledged to provide the public with this information. I’m concerned that yesterday he retracted on that pledge. After admitting that Abramoff met with White House officials, Scott McClellan refused to say who they were. So, today, Senate Democrats renew their request to know exactly who - whether it be Chief of Staff Andy Card, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove or others - Jack Abramoff met with at the White House and for what reason. Given the recent indictment of Jack Abramoff and his associates and ongoing criminal investigations into Republican officials, we need to know just how far this Republican culture of corruption has spread. The American people have a right to know. They also have a right to know what the White House is hiding.”

Et tu, Sen. Reid?

***

Background via GOP.com:

Reid Potential Target Of Abramoff Investigation?:

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV): “Law-Enforcement Authorities And Others Said The [Abramoff] Investigation’s Opening Phase Is Scrutinizing … Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat …” (Jerry Seper and Audrey Hudson, “Abramoff-Linked Probe Focuses On 5 Lawmakers,” The Washington Times, 1/11/06)

Reid Received Abramoff Affiliated Money:

Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Received $68,941 From Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms And Indian Tribes. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 1/4/06)

*Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Received $50,500 From Abramoff Affiliated Indian Tribes. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 1/4/06)

*Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) Has Received $18,441 From Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms. (Political Money Line Website, www.tray.com, Accessed 1/4/06)

Reid Was The Third Highest Individual Democrat Recipient Of Abramoff Affiliated Money. (”How Abramoff Spread The Wealth,” The Washington Post, 12/12/05)

** NOTE: The Abramoff Affiliated Indian Tribes Are The Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, Chitimacha Tribe Of Louisiana, Mississippi Band Of Choctaw Indians, Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Of Michigan And The Tigua Indian Reservation From 1997 To 2004. The Abramoff Affiliated Lobbying Firms Are Preston Gates From 1997-2000, And Greenberg Traurig From 2001-2004. **

Reid Acted On Behalf Of Abramoff Clients:

“Many Lawmakers … Intervened With Letters To Interior Secretary Gale Norton Within Days Of Receiving Money From Tribes Represented By Abramoff Or Using The Lobbyist’s Restaurant For Fundraising, An Associated Press Review Of Campaign Reports, IRS Records And Congressional Correspondence Found.” (John Solomon, “Lawmakers Pressured Interior While Getting Large Donations,” The Associated Press, 11/18/05)

* “Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid Of Nevada Sent A Letter To Norton On March 5, 2002, That Also Was Signed By Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. The Next Day, The Coushattas Issued A $5,000 Check To Reid’s Tax-Exempt Political Group, The Searchlight Leadership Fund.” (John Solomon, “Lawmakers Pressured Interior While Getting Large Donations,” The Associated Press, 11/18/05)

Reid’s Former Legislative Counsel Was Top Lobbyist With Abramoff:

“[A]bramoff Did Hire As One Of His Lobbyists Edward P. Ayoob, A Veteran Reid Legislative Aide. Manley Acknowledged That Ayoob Helped Raise Campaign Money For His Former Boss. Lawyers Close To The Abramoff Operation Said That Ayoob Held A Fundraising Reception For Reid At Greenberg Traurig’s Offices Here.” (Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Derek Willis, “Democrats Also Got Tribal Donations,” The Washington Post, 6/3/05)

Edward P. Ayoob Was Registered To Lobby For The Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians With Jack Abramoff From 2002-2004. (Lobbying Registration, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 1/9/03; Mid-YearTermination, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 8/19/04)

* Greenberg, Traurig Lobbyists, Including Ayoob And Abramoff, Earned $3,160,000 While Lobbying For The Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians From 2002-2004. (Year-End Report, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 2/14/03; Mid-Year Report, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 8/14/03; Year-End Report, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 2/17/04; Mid-Year Termination, Agua Caliente Band Of Cahuilla Indians, 8/19/04)

Edward P. Ayoob Was Registered To Lobby For The Sandia Pueblo Indians With Jack Abramoff In 2002. (Lobbying Registration, Sandia Pueblo, 4/23/02; Mid-Year Report, Sandia Pueblo, 8/14/03)

* Greenberg, Traurig Lobbyists, Including Ayoob And Abramoff, Earned $500,000 While Lobbying For Sandia Pueblo Indians From 2002-2004. (Lobbying Registration, Sandia Pueblo, 4/23/02; Mid-Year Report, Sandia Pueblo, 2/14/03; Year-End Report, Sandia Pueblo, 2/14/03; Mid-Year Report, Sandia Pueblo, 8/14/03)

Edward Ayoob Donated $1,800 To Democrats While Lobbying In 2002. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/5/06)

* Edward Ayoob Donated $0 To Republicans While Lobbying In 2002. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/5/06)

Edward Ayoob Donated $37,515 To Democrats While Lobbying During 2004 Cycle, Including $4,000 To Harry Reid. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/5/06)

* Edward Ayoob Donated $0 To Republicans While Lobbying During 2004 Cycle. (The Center For Responsive Politics Website, www.opensecrets.org, Accessed 1/5/06)

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