Corruption Investigation: Hastert "In the Mix"
House Speaker, Justice Department Issue Statements on ABC News Report
By BRIAN ROSS, RHONDA SCHWARTZ and RICHARD ESPOSITO
Despite a flat denial from the Department of Justice, federal law enforcement sources say ABC News accurately reported that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is "in the mix" in the FBI investigation of corruption in Congress.
Speaker Hastert said tonight the story was "absolutely untrue" and has demanded ABC News retract its story.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff has provided information to the FBI about Hastert and a number of other members of Congress that have broadened the scope of the investigation. Sources would not divulge details of Abramoff's information.
"You guys wrote the story very carefully, but they are not reading it very carefully," a senior official said.
One focus involves a letter Hastert wrote in 2003 urging the Secretary of the Interior to block an Indian casino that would have competed with tribes represented by Abramoff.
The letter was written within days of a fund-raiser held for Hastert at Abramoff's restaurant in Washington. Federal campaign records show more than $26,000 was raised at the time from Abramoff and his clients.
(There's more.)
By BRIAN ROSS, RHONDA SCHWARTZ and RICHARD ESPOSITO
Despite a flat denial from the Department of Justice, federal law enforcement sources say ABC News accurately reported that Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert is "in the mix" in the FBI investigation of corruption in Congress.
Speaker Hastert said tonight the story was "absolutely untrue" and has demanded ABC News retract its story.
Law enforcement sources told ABC News that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff has provided information to the FBI about Hastert and a number of other members of Congress that have broadened the scope of the investigation. Sources would not divulge details of Abramoff's information.
"You guys wrote the story very carefully, but they are not reading it very carefully," a senior official said.
One focus involves a letter Hastert wrote in 2003 urging the Secretary of the Interior to block an Indian casino that would have competed with tribes represented by Abramoff.
The letter was written within days of a fund-raiser held for Hastert at Abramoff's restaurant in Washington. Federal campaign records show more than $26,000 was raised at the time from Abramoff and his clients.
(There's more.)
Powered by Blogger
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home