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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tribes paid group for meetings with Bush


Jack Abramoff, right, listens to his attorney Abbe Lowell on Capitol Hill in this 2004 file photo, as Abramoff refused to answer questions before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
 (File/Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press

WASHINGTON – At the behest of a lobbyist now under criminal investigation, two Indian tribes paid $25,000 each to a conservative tax-exempt group to underwrite an event that scored tribal leaders a private meeting with President Bush.

The arrangement in 2001 among the tribes, lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the Americans for Tax Reform group, led by Bush supporter Grover Norquist, was confirmed by tribal lawyers and documents showing the solicitation of money and promise of a meeting.

“The exposure would be incredible and would be very helpful,” Abramoff wrote to one of the tribe’s attorneys in asking for the donation. “One of the things we need to do is get the leaders of the tribe (ideally the chief) in front of the president as much as possible.”

At the time, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and Mississippi Band of Choctaw were seeking to protect their casino gaming revenues from tougher labor regulations and to block changes in federal gaming laws that might interfere with their casinos.

A federal grand jury is investigating whether Abramoff and a lobbying partner overcharged Indian tribes millions of dollars for their work.

Abramoff spokesman Andrew Blum declined to discuss the 2001 White House meetings. Abramoff had denied wrongdoing and argued his clients got their money’s worth for his work.

Norquist’s group has been fighting a subpoena from the Senate Indian Affairs Committee demanding documents showing its relationship with Abramoff and the tribes. It confirmed some tribal leaders and state legislators attended the 2001 event and briefly met Bush.

Former President Clinton was heavily criticized by Republicans for rewarding big donors with invitations to the White House. But those donors usually contributed directly to the party.