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House panel: Abramoff has White House clout |
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By Klaus Marre
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Posted: 06/09/08 12:03 PM [ET] |
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A House panel on Monday released a proposed report saying that disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff “influenced some White House actions.” The proposed report, compiled by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said, “Abramoff and his associates had access and influenced some actions at the White House.” The document states that the probe was “limited by potential Fifth Amendment claims by several White House officials and Abramoff lobbyists and the committee’s accommodation of Justice Department concerns.” The investigation also showed that “Abramoff had personal contact with President Bush, that high-level White House officials held Mr. Abramoff and his associates in high regard and solicited recommendations from Mr. Abramoff on policy matters …” The proposed report was issued by committee Chairman Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and ranking Republican Tom Davis (Va.). According to the document, the investigation unveiled that the “White House failed to provide public accountability regarding its relationship with Jack Abramoff.” |
