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From The Associated Press, 4/25/07: http://www.kansascity.com/136/story/82720.html Guilty plea in Abramoff scandal Fifth congressional staffer admits guilt in lobbyist Abramoff influence-peddling case. By PETE YOST The Associated Press WASHINGTON | A former congressional aide pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The influence-peddling scandal has already touched the White House, Interior Department and congressional Republicans. Mark Zachares was the 11th person to be convicted in the Justice Department inquiry. Zachares admitted engaging in official acts on Abramoff’s behalf while working for Rep. Don Young, an Alaska Republican, who headed the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Abramoff assisted Zachares in obtaining his post. Zachares left Young’s staff in 2005. Young’s office declined to comment Tuesday. Zachares faces a maximum of five years in prison, but under federal sentencing guidelines will probably face two years or less. After the court appearance, defense attorney Edward MacMahon declined to say whether Young was aware of what Zachares was doing on behalf of Abramoff. Zachares agreed to cooperate with the government’s continuing investigation, and outside the courthouse, MacMahon reinforced that point to reporters. The former Republican aide is the fifth congressional staffer to plead guilty in the Abramoff scandal, including two ex-aides to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican. Zachares provided information to Abramoff about pending congressional actions on the reorganization of federal agencies into the Homeland Security Department. In court, Zachares admitted that Abramoff and his lobbying team supplied him with $30,000 worth of tickets to sporting events and concerts on more than 40 occasions in 18 months from mid-2002 to early 2004. Zachares accompanied Abramoff and six others, including Rep. Tom Feeney, a Florida Republican, on a $160,000 golf junket to Scotland in 2003, according to the conspiracy count to which Zachares pleaded guilty. Feeney’s office said that the Justice Department has contacted the congressman to request more information and that Feeney is cooperating. Early this year, Feeney agreed to reimburse the government $5,643 for the Scotland trip that Abramoff, Zachares and the others took. In the court proceeding, Justice Department attorney Richard Pilger disclosed that Zachares’ wife also is in legal jeopardy. Pilger said the government will offer an agreement not to prosecute Cynthia Zachares in exchange for her complete cooperation. Pilger revealed that investigators questioned her on Feb. 23. Pilger did not describe Cynthia Zachares’ role. Outside the courthouse, MacMahon refused to comment on the matter. Zachares and Abramoff became professional acquaintances when Zachares worked for the attorney general in Saipan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The island government paid Abramoff over $7 million for lobbying from 1996 to 2001. In early 2002, Zachares accepted $10,000 in wire transfers from Abramoff as the two men discussed Zachares’ Washington, D.C., employment prospects. The congressional staffer supplied Abramoff information for prospective businesses that would be affected by the creation of the Homeland Security Department. _________________________________________________ More Republican Culture of Corruption with no end in sight. -- Relpo Miraculous ROFL! http://www.omencity.com/blog/ Remove YOUR SHORTS to reply