Right Side Redux has posted a compilation of contributions interests linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff to congressional candidates and campaign committees since 1996, and the list is quite extensive.
However, there are a couple of caveats that need to be addressed about this list. First, the source, The Center for Responsive Politics, is a campaign finance reform group headed by Lawrence Noble. CRP has a vested interest in both campaign finance reform and lobbying reform.
Second, the list is not just Abramoff and his clients, but also those of his former partner, Michael Scanlon, so the list is a bit more expansive than just Abramoff and his clients. The list also includes contributions from SunCruz Casinos, a Florida based company whose business dealings with Jack Abramoff resulted in a guilty plea of Adam Kidan on charges of conspiracy and fraud. Thus there is a bit of spin on the material.
Third and finally, all of this activity is completely legal. In no case has Abramoff, Scanlon or Kidan broken campaign finance laws. Did they break other laws, apparently, since few innocent people actually plead guilty. But not a single one of these aggregate contributions to candidates or committees exceeded campaign finance limits.
Before people take off on Abramoff for breaking all kinds of laws, lets be clear about which laws he has violated. Abramoff has broken laws to be sure. But not these.
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