Today’s DOJ press release contains what they may not realize is a NH-Abramoff bombshell:
White House Office of Political Affairs (OPA) staff member Leonard Rodriguez … told the OIG that he kept Abramoff aware of information relevant. to Guam, including potential nominees for the U.S. Attorney position. Rodriguez said he did so at the behest of Ken Mehlman, the White House Political Director, who “recommended or suggested that I reach out to “make Jack aware” of issues related to Guam…
On October 23, 2002, Rodriguez sent an e-mail to Abramoff, with a copy to Ken Mehlman, in which Rodriguez stated that he had tried to reach Abramoff by telephone to introduce himself. Rodriguez also stated that he oversaw the U.S. territories for OPA and invited Abramoff to “feel free to contact me directly for any requests from Guam.”
So on
Ken Mehlman lets Abramoff know that the White House Office of Public Affairs is handing his Guam sweatshop clients control of the island. A mere five days later, on
Abramoff clients started pouring thousands of dollars into the hands of NH Republicans, money that ultimately helped pay for the phone-jamming.
I think this may be what Allen Raymond meant when he told the Boston Globe that the federal government was being “monetized.”
Thanks to Josh Marshall for flagging the DOJ’s report.