White House denies Abramoff influence
Disgraced US lobbyist Jack Abramoff had more extensive contacts with the White House than previously admitted, a Congressional inquiry has reported. According to the report, Mr Abramoff and his associates made contact with White House staff more than 480 times between 2001 and 2004.
Democrats called on the White House on Friday to explain a congressional report showing many contacts with Jack Abramoff, but aides to President George W. Bush dismissed the notion the disgraced lobbyist wielded any influence. Administration officials say the report is based on records that are “widely regarded as fraudulent,” but said it would review a House committee report detailing at least 485 contacts between Abramoff and administration officials.
The report alleges that Mr Abramoff purchased expensive gifts and dinners for some White House officials and other Republicans in attempts to gain their influence for his clients.
Of 485 contacts listed in the report, 345 are described as meetings or other in-person contacts; 71 were telephone conversations and 69 were e-mail exchanges, the report says.
“For months, White House officials have refused to be straight with the American people about Jack Abramoff,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California.
“Now we know the truth: a disgraced lobbyist traded perks and campaign contributions for special access to the Bush White House,” she said.
The White House sought to cast doubt on the report’s credibility, which draws on 14,000 pages of e-mails and billing records spanning three years ending in 2003, saying it was based on material from Abramoff who had an incentive to exaggerate his clout to clients.
Pressed on whether Abramoff influenced decisions at the White House, Snow pointed to a part of the report that referred to 20 instances where the lobbyist recommended people for administration jobs and only one was followed.
“I’ll tell you what it accurately portrays is the fact that Jack Abramoff was an exuberant practitioner of sleaze,” said White House spokesman Tony Snow.
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