The Biggest Congressional Scandal in Over a Century? Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Pleads Guilty

Jack Abramoff became a Washington lobbyist after the Republicans won control of the House in 1994. He has ties that reach to all parts of Washington. He played a key role in what was called the K Street Project -- a Republican attempt to essentially take control of the D.C. lobbying world. By 1995 he would befriend Tom Delay -- who would later call Abramoff "one of his closest and dearest friends.” He became a key fundraiser for President Bush and served on Bush’s transition team in 2000. His former assistant became Karl Rove’s personal assistant. He was accused of offering Congressional staffers lucrative jobs in exchange for legislative help. Abramoff ordered lobbying clients to give millions in political contributions to key lawmakers. The Wall Street Journal reports Abramoff could implicate as many as 60 lawmakers in the corrupion inquiry.

On Tuesday, Alice Fisher, the assistant attorney general of the criminal division of the Justice Department, announced Abramoff had pleaded guilty.

Alice Fisher: "Government officials and government action are not for sale. The Justice Department will aggressively investigate and prosecute these types of cases which have a devastating impact on the public's trust of government. We will not shy away from that responsibility no matter where the trail leads. I will note that, while Abramoff engaged in the business of lobbying, his activities went far beyond lawful lobbying to the illegal practice of paying for official acts. Lawful lobbying does not include paying a public official a personal benefit with the understanding -- explicit or implicit -- that a certain official act will occur. That's not lobbying; that's a crime."

* Peter Stone, a staff reporter for the National Journal. He has written extensively on Jack Abramoff over the years.

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