Progressive Talking Points

Conservative Government Rife with Corruption

• Why was Jack Abramoff talking to Karl Rove about Tyco and what did he get in return? Today, the Washington Post reports that Abramoff "bragged two years ago that he was in contact with White House political aide Karl Rove on behalf of a large, Bermuda-based corporation that wanted to avoid incurring some taxes and continue receiving federal contracts." The accusation about Rove's involvement in helping Tyco International Ltd. secure its offshore tax breaks was made by Tim Flanigan, President Bush's nominee to be deputy attorney general. Rove, who is facing his own federal investigation over his involvement in the leak of an undercover CIA agent's identity, claimed through a White House spokeswoman that he had "no recollection" of being contacted by Abramoff about Tyco.
  
  
• Why were top conservatives representing someone with known terrorist ties and what were they trying to accomplish? Both Jack Abramoff and David Safavian enjoy a close relationship with Grover Norquist, head of the anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform, who also enjoys access and influence with the White House. Norquist and Safavian launched a consulting company together that represented an individual named Abdurahman Alamoudi. At the time Norquist and Safavian started representing Alamoudi, he was already suspected of terrorist ties. In 2000, Alamoudi declared at a public rally, "We are all supporters of Hamas...I wish to add that I am also a supporter of Hezbollah." Just last year, Alamoudi was sent to prison for his actions here and his connections to known terrorist organizations. So top conservative lobbyists, with high level access to the White House and members of Congress, were lobbying on behalf of a man with, at a minimum, highly questionable terrorist ties. What were they trying to accomplish and who knew about it?
  
  
• The White House and Congress owe Americans a clear explanation for what role Abramoff and his web of illicit friends have played in our government. These troubling revelations are not something that can be shunted to the side. Beyond potential illegal domestic actions, our national security has potentially been compromised by an indicted lobbyist with unsavory clients and access to the top government officials. Americans deserve to know exactly what role Abramoff and his clients have had in Bush administration actions and decision making.