A Recipe For Corruption: Jack Abramoff's Restaurants
As a lobbyist, Jack Abramoff used a lot of techniques to influence lawmakers -- some of which broke the law and landed him in federal prison. One of the more prominent items in his toolbox was Signatures, the upscale restaurant he owned and operated in Washington, D.C - along with two other restaurant businesses. Abramoff joins Kojo to chat about how he used restaurants to manipulate levers of power and his new life as a government reform advocate.
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Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff talked about why he felt safe using Signatures, a restaurant located down the street from the FBI headquarters, to manipulate levers of power. Abramoff said at the time he didn't believe he was doing anything wrong or illegal. He said having a "home court" so close to Capitol Hill changed the lobbying dynamic. Abramoff added that he sometimes sent his own car and driver to pick up members of Congress, staffers and other clients who hosted fundraisers in the restaurant's private rooms.
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Kojo - Please do not allow this convicted felon to be your expert on so-called congressional corruption. He is just trying to scam the system again so he can make enough money to pay back the $40-plus million in fees he bilked out of his Indian tribe clients.
There are ethical lobbyists in this town who can tell you what needs to be fixed and how to fix it. The American League of Lobbyists has a package of proposals that has the support of many good government groups. The American Bar Association has its own package of proposals, and there are others who can discuss the political finance and other issues that need to be dealt with.
I hope you will allow one of these responsible and ethical experts to get as much airtime as the Abramoff the convict.
Howard Marlowe
President
American League of Lobbyists
202-775-1796
Calling an ex-con an ex-con and a scam artist a scam artist isn't inflammatory. It's fact. I have been a professional lobbyist for nearly 40 yrs. #Abramoff was no lobbyist. He used money to ingratiate himself with politicians, build his already inflated ego, and then buy votes. The system that got him and some Members of Congress behind bars was not broken. You put #Abramoff on a pedastal just like he and his publicist and his book company and his radio show and his new lobbying group want. Convicted bank robbers and hackers get hired by law enforcement agencies to help prevent roberies and hackers. This guy has not been hired by anyone except those seeking to boost their ratings. Kojo - Your show is too good to need that boost but I guess ex-cons who publish books make edgier guests than honest experts who know the flaws and how to fix them. I do a weekly radio show where we use experts to talk about real problems and real solutions. Jack doesn't have a prayer of getting on The Inner Loop.
Howard Marlowe
president@alldc.org