Indian Affairs "Show Me The Money" Hearing Reset for Wednesday
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John McCain
Hearings on lobbying abuses in the $18.5 billion per year Indian gaming "industry" are leading to a probe of involvement by officials of the U.S. Interior Department.
Hearings before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, headed by Sen. John McCain, R-AZ, have been rescheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 2 in Washington, DC.
Meanwhile, more documents relating to alleged lobbyist attempts at manipulation of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe were released by the committee. (See indian.senate.gov)
Italia Federici, associated with Interior Secretary Gale Norton, is expected to testify this week in the Jack Abramoff lobbying case, the Washington Post has reported.
Ms. Federici allegedly contacted Interior officials on behalf of Abramoff's wealthy tribal clients, including the Saginaw Chippewa, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Agua Caliente Tribe of California.
While the Coushattas are the focus of Wednesday's hearing, multiple documents released as committee exhibits involve the Saginaw Chippewa.
Copies of E-mail memoes from Abramoff to Michael Scanlon, of Scanlon Gould Public Affairs, a Washington, DC communications firm, indicate not only election manipulation but attempts at gouging the tribe of millions. One entry stated: "We want $100,000 a month but will work for $85,000."
The documents indicate attempts by lobbyists to control Chippewa tribal elections in 2001 and efforts to derail a proposal for race track gambling expansion in Michigan, considered competitive to the Soaring Eagle Casino at Mt. Pleasant run by the tribe.
Recent estimates based on a two percent semi-annual governmental and educational subsidy are the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe grosses more than $600 million per year at its Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant.
A Scanlon e-mail to Abramoff said "we wound up spending 100k of AC (Agua Caliente) money to beat back the tracks -- and he never even presented our proposal to the council." That document seems to indicate the lobbyists spent money from the California tribe in lobbying in Michigan while waiting for a tribal representative to present a proposal to the Chippewa tribal council.
Among several e-mails scornful of the tribe or individuals for not bending to their wishes, one communication referred to the "Sagchip idiots."
An e-mail from Scanlon to Abramoff dated Jan. 14, 2002 said: "I can't believe that I spilled blood to get these guys elected, and I got stiffed. How incrediblyungrateful. Can that at the very least sign me to some kind of deal? I can't believe they laid a goose - egg."
Lobbyists eventually got about $14 million from the Michigan Chippewa tribe, it was alleged during testimony at a hearing last year.
Another document released by the committee shows a request from U.S. Rep. Tom Delay, R-TX, for a $25,000 donation to his Capital Athletic Foundation. Delay is under indictment in Texas for alleged money laundering and illegal campaign contributions.
The same letter asks for $25,000 contributions also for Americans for Tax Reform and the National Republican Campaign Committee.
The letter states: "The three entities listed above have asked for support by the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan to assist them in funding efforts to protect Tribal sovereignty and advocate a higher social and economic quality of life for Tribal members."Documents released by the committee also indicate involvement in lobbying for Indian tribes by Ralph Reed, Christian Coalition leader.
A memo from Federici also allegedly states: "You can see that (GOP lobbyist) Ralph Reed and his firm are involved somehow. From what I have been told, Ralph is bending the ear of Karl Rove and possibly even the President about land-into-trust and gaming issues."
A non-profit watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit against the National Indian Gaming Commission in an attempt to uncover more about contacts between Interior officials and lobbyists. The complaint filing in federal court lists numerous Republicans including Reed and Federici. ###
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