Have you ever seen the movie “The Firm”?
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The Fast Rise and Steep Fall of Jack Abramoff
How a Well-Connected Lobbyist Became the Center of a Far-Reaching Corruption Scandal
By Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, December 29, 2005; A01Jack Abramoff liked to slip into dialogue from “The Godfather” as he led his lobbying colleagues in planning their next conquest on Capitol Hill. In a favorite bit, he would mimic an ice-cold Michael Corleone facing down a crooked politician’s demand for a cut of Mafia gambling profits: “Senator, you can have my answer now if you like. My offer is this: nothing.”
The playacting provided a clue to how Abramoff saw himself — the power behind the scenes who directed millions of dollars in Indian gambling proceeds to favored lawmakers, the puppet master who pulled the strings of officials in key places, the businessman who was building an international casino empire.
Abramoff is the central figure in what could become the biggest congressional corruption scandal in generations. Justice Department prosecutors are pressing him and his lawyers to settle fraud and bribery allegations by the end of this week, sources knowledgeable about the case said. Unless he reaches a plea deal, he faces a trial Jan. 9 in Florida in a related fraud case.
From Wiki regarding the law firm of Greenberg Traurig.
Victor Reyes scandal (Chicago)
Victor Reyes, a political operative who headed the Hispanic Democratic Organization and had close ties to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, joined Greenberg Traurig in 2001 and led the firm’s Chicago lobbying practice. After Reyes’s arrival, from 2001 to 2005, Greenberg earned $ 3.5 million in city-related legal fees, including for representing the city in the United Airlines and RCN Cable TV bankruptcies. US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald subsequently alleged that Reyes’s law office was central to a patronage scheme to funnel city jobs to pro-Daley campaign workers. Reyes resigned from Greenberg in August 2005, and in September federal prosecutors indicted five city employees, including a former Reyes aide, in the scandal.
Leonard Ross scandal (Philadelphia)
In December 2005, Leonard Ross, an attorney associated with Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office, was charged with fraud and corruption as part of an FBI investigation into city government. Ross was a friend and former law partner of Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street. Greenberg’s offer letter to Ross stated that he would do municipal finance work and represent clients that did business with the city, and, in exchange, the firm would pay him $10,000 a month plus annual incentive payments based on business he generated.
Hamilton Bank scandal (Miami)
In June 2006, Greenberg Traurig agreed to pay the FDIC $7.6 million for its role as a legal adviser to the now defunct Hamilton Bank of Miami, to settle allegations that it had helped to cover up bank officers’ financial misconduct. The firm paid an additional $750,000 fine to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for allegedly protecting the bank’s officers “by making materially false and misleading assertions and by suppressing material evidence.”[
On July 12, 2006, the Alabama-Coushatta tribe filed a federal racketeering lawsuit against now-convicted Abramoff and his cohorts.
Greenberg Traurig was not a named defendant, but the tribe began discussing a settlement payment by the firm later that month. Its lawsuit states that “There was a nexus between Greenberg, the enterprise and the pattern of racketeering.” According to the suit, internal Greenberg e-mails showed that Abramoff associate Michael Scanlon, although not a member of the firm, “billed hours to tribal clients through Greenberg and that members of the law firm, including attorneys Kevin Ring, Shawn Vasell, Stephanie Leger, Todd Boulanger and others, fabricated hours and time entries for Scanlon.” The suit also says the firm allowed checks sent by the tribe to a bogus Abramoff-linked think tank to be funneled and cashed through Greenberg Traurig.
Jay Gordon scandal (NY)
In November 2006, Jay I. Gordon, the former chairman of Greenberg Traurig’s tax practice, resigned from the New York bar and was disbarred for taking over $1.2 million in kickbacks on tax shelters that he had recommended to wealthy clients of the firm.
Criminal indictment (Guam)
In March 2008, prosecutors in Guam indicted Greenberg Traurig on felony counts of allegedly making improper billings to Guam’s superior court under the guise of charging for lobbying services by Jack Abramoff.
Linda Pence announces a fund raiser at the offices of Greenberg Traurig.
June 23rd, 2008 a fundraiser will be held at the Chicago law offices of Greenberg Traurig to benefit the Linda Pence (D) for Attorney General campaign.
What the hell is this woman thinking?
Who’d want to be seen in that company?
Scott at Hoosier Pundit has more.
AWB
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Wow!!! The democrats really picked quite the trial lawyer for this job. She is so far up to her neck in defending corruption she has no idea what she is doing spending her time with Jack Abramoff’s old firm that he helped build.