Abramoff and tribal contributions Conrad Burns

1 abramoff , tribal contributions

1.1 contributions , connections
1.2 tribal school
1.3 national bison range
1.4 involvement of staffers , aides
1.5 returning of tainted campaign contributions

abramoff , tribal contributions

burns had accepted $150,000 in contributions jack abramoff , clients , associates. later gave money away after democrats criticized connections lobbyist. 2 of burns s staffers later worked abramoff. in 2008, justice department notified burns no longer part of investigation.

contributions , connections

between 2001 , 2004, while chair of interior subcommittee on appropriations, burns received $150,000 in campaign contributions lobbyist jack abramoff, abramoff s clients , other donors connected abramoff. according 2006 report politicalmoneyline.com, published in roll call, burns received $192,090 in campaign contributions tribal entities between 2001 , 2005. in addition, friend of abramoff s said in october 2006 burns s staff ate many free meals @ abramoff s restaurant people joked have starved death without lobbyist. burns later returned money.

in december 2005, leader of tribe gave burns $22,000 in campaign contributions in 2002 said tribe had done solely @ abramoff s request , believed senator part of abramoff s group. in 2006 vanity fair article, abramoff quoted saying, every appropriation wanted senator conrad burns committee got. burns denied influenced abramoff.

beginning in 2001, mark baker, former burns aide chief lobbyist confederated salish , kootenai tribes in 2003 , 2004 , burns 2006 campaign chairman donated $9,000 burns , friends of big sky leadership pac. baker affiliated dc lobbying firm denny miller associates inc., members donated @ least $27,000 burns , pac during same time period.

tribal school

in january 2003, attempt 2 senators michigan money school of saginaw chippewa tribe of michigan, abramoff client , 1 of wealthiest tribes in country (each member gets $70,000 per year gambling profits), unsuccessful. bureau of indian affairs said tribe s school wasn t eligible, based on authorizing statute program. tribe, , abramoff, lobbyist, began working burns. abramoff s lobbying team had strong connections burns s staff. among ranks shawn vasell, appropriations aide shuttled , forth between jobs on burns s staff , abramoff s shop. ryan thomas, burns appropriations staffer, , burns s chief of staff, m. brooke, treated trip 2001 super bowl in florida on corporate jet leased abramoff s team.

in may 2003, burns , counterpart, charles taylor, chairman of house interior subcommittee, sent letter interior department, arguing saginaw chippewa s case. department , bureau remained firm in refusal. in late october 2003, before final vote on interior appropriations bill, burns inserted paragraph @ request of michigan senators – earmark – in bill s conference report. lifted previous restrictions , directed saginaw chippewa indians given $3 million tribal school.

the tribe donated $32,000 burns 2001 2003.

national bison range

in 1990s, burns opposed transfer of management of national bison range (nbr) in moiese, montana, confederated salish , kootenai tribes (cskt), introduced draft bill opposing tribal jurisdiction, , supported senator slade gorton s s. 1691, called tribal sovereign immunity question. @ time, burns said tribal sovereign immunity interfered citizens fifth amendment rights.

in 2001 , 2002, burns s policies changed, , dc staff told citizens of western montana not support legislation concerning tribal government unless 500+ tribes agree it.

in 2003, cskt renewed negotiations on nbr. fish , wildlife officials in denver stated @ time burns had authority stop management transfer. on march 14, 2005, day before new nbr agreement went effect tribes, cskt chairman fred matt wrote in missoulian guest column, sen. burns has been positive , aggressive advocate indian country... , burns understands , appreciates consultation indian country, our sovereignty, , our right self-determination.

involvement of staffers , aides

less 2 months after key earmark burns in october 2003, burns s chief of staff, brooke, went work abramoff @ lobbying firm greenberg traurig.

in june 2005, former burns staffer shawn vasell called witness @ hearing before senate committee on indian affairs. vasell registered lobbyist choctaw , coushatta tribes in 2001, joined burns s staff in 2002, rejoined abramoff s team lobbyist tribes in 2003. refused testify, citing fifth amendment right against self-incrimination.

mark baker, former legislative director burns, , burns s 2006 campaign chairman, paid $60,000 chief lobbyist confederated salish , kootenai tribes in 2003 , 2004. working through helena firm, anderson , baker, baker made $120,000 lobbying cskt business venture s&k technologies during same years, , $40,000 working cskt through giacometto group. leo giacometto burns s chief of staff 1995 1999.

returning of tainted campaign contributions

burns returned entirety of abramoff s personal donations charity. when possible, burns returned contributions tribes originated.

his attempt make $111,000 donation montana-wyoming tribal leaders council rejected; council said money tainted because came abramoff , clients. julia doney, president of fort belknap indian community council , member of tribal leaders council, said tribes tired of being used , didn t want burns political troubles.

the blackfeet community college refused accept money burns because came jack abramoff. james st. goddard, blackfeet council member, told great falls tribune

that taking money have made money clean. not want mr. burns use tribes more political gain.