Team Abramoff
Encyclopedia
"Team Abramoff" is the team of lobbyists assembled by Jack Abramoff
when he worked at Greenberg Traurig
, primarily of former aides to prominent Congressional politicians. Their work is embroiled in the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
and the monetary influence of Jack Abramoff
.
On January 8, 2001, Abramoff left Preston Gates & Ellis
to join the Government Relations division of the law firm of Greenberg Traurig, which once described him as "directly involved in the Republican party and conservative movement leadership structures" and "one of the leading fund raisers for the party and its congressional candidates." With the move to Greenberg Traurig Abramoff took as much as $6 million dollars worth of client "work" from his old firm, including the Marianas Islands account. When asked in an interview why he moved to Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff replied "they have a dominant presence … This move is an excellent opportunity for me and my clients with the new Administration."
At Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff assembled a "dream team
" made up of lobbyists with past jobs working for congressional leaders. This team included Tony Rudy
, whom Abramoff had worked extensively with during the Marianas and eLottery lobbying while Rudy was serving as Chief of Staff to Tom Delay. Abramoff had hired Rudy while he was still at Preston Gates, and brought him and six other staff lobbyists over to Greenberg Traurig. The hiring of Rudy was one of the first instances in a pattern by which Abramoff would directly hire aides of representatives he was actively lobbying.
Team Abramoff members Rudy and Neil Volz, Bob Ney
's former chief of staff, were later named as unindicted coconspirators in Abramoff's guilty plea in the Indian lobbying scandal
. In addition, Kevin Ring, Jon van Horne, Michael Smith and Stephanie Leger received secret side payments from Abramoff counter to Greenberg Traurig policy and were asked to resign. Van Horne received $20,000 from the Coushatta Tribe via Capitol Campaign Strategies
. Smith also received a $20,000 payoff from CCS. Shana Tesler's husband Samuel Hook received $20,000 from Abramoff for serving as the titular head of Abramoff entities such as Eshkol Academy
and Grassroots Interactive
.
Rudy pleaded guilty to conspiracy for corruption and fraud on March 31, 2006. Volz pleaded guilty to conspiracy for corruption and fraud on May 8, 2006.
Boldface names have pleaded guilty or are identified in the criminal indictments/plea documents.
Jack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
when he worked at Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig LLP and Greenberg Traurig PA is an international law firm based in Miami, Florida.The firm has approximately 1,800 attorneys and governmental professionals in 32 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Its founding office is in Miami, Florida with its largest office in...
, primarily of former aides to prominent Congressional politicians. Their work is embroiled in the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
and the monetary influence of Jack Abramoff
Monetary influence of Jack Abramoff
The monetary influence of Jack Abramoff ran deep in Washington, as Jack Abramoff spent millions of dollars to influence and entertain both Republican and Democrat politicians. Abramoff had a reputation for largesse considered exceptional even by Washington standards...
.
On January 8, 2001, Abramoff left Preston Gates & Ellis
Preston Gates & Ellis
Preston Gates & Ellis, LLP, also known as Preston Gates, was a law firm with offices in the United States, China and Taiwan. Its main office was in the IDX Tower in Seattle, Washington...
to join the Government Relations division of the law firm of Greenberg Traurig, which once described him as "directly involved in the Republican party and conservative movement leadership structures" and "one of the leading fund raisers for the party and its congressional candidates." With the move to Greenberg Traurig Abramoff took as much as $6 million dollars worth of client "work" from his old firm, including the Marianas Islands account. When asked in an interview why he moved to Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff replied "they have a dominant presence … This move is an excellent opportunity for me and my clients with the new Administration."
At Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff assembled a "dream team
Dream Team
Dream Team in sport, often only as a nickname, may refer to:* The roster of the 1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team in Barcelona* Brazil men's national volleyball team under coach Bernardo Rezende since 2002...
" made up of lobbyists with past jobs working for congressional leaders. This team included Tony Rudy
Tony Rudy
Tony Charles Rudy , an American lobbyist and an associate of Jack Abramoff. After serving as a staffer in the office of U. S. Representative Tom DeLay from approximately 1995 to 2001, and rising to deputy chief of staff, Rudy joined "Team Abramoff" at Greenberg Traurig. Rudy was implicated in the...
, whom Abramoff had worked extensively with during the Marianas and eLottery lobbying while Rudy was serving as Chief of Staff to Tom Delay. Abramoff had hired Rudy while he was still at Preston Gates, and brought him and six other staff lobbyists over to Greenberg Traurig. The hiring of Rudy was one of the first instances in a pattern by which Abramoff would directly hire aides of representatives he was actively lobbying.
Team Abramoff members Rudy and Neil Volz, Bob Ney
Bob Ney
Robert William Ney is an American politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. A Republican, Ney represented Ohio's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 until November 3, 2006, when he resigned...
's former chief of staff, were later named as unindicted coconspirators in Abramoff's guilty plea in the Indian lobbying scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
. In addition, Kevin Ring, Jon van Horne, Michael Smith and Stephanie Leger received secret side payments from Abramoff counter to Greenberg Traurig policy and were asked to resign. Van Horne received $20,000 from the Coushatta Tribe via Capitol Campaign Strategies
Capitol Campaign Strategies
Capitol Campaign Strategies was a public relations firm run by Michael Scanlon, Tom DeLay's former press secretary, which Scanlon used in coordination with Jack Abramoff to redirect about $40 million in lobbying contributions from Indian tribes to Scanlon, Abramoff, and their associates, as well as...
. Smith also received a $20,000 payoff from CCS. Shana Tesler's husband Samuel Hook received $20,000 from Abramoff for serving as the titular head of Abramoff entities such as Eshkol Academy
Eshkol Academy
Eshkol Academy was an all-boys Orthodox Jewish day school in Maryland that existed from fall 2002 to 2004. Its name comes from Ish Shekol Bo Hebrew for "well-rounded man" and Eshkol Hebrew for cluster of grapes. In 2002 Eshkol Academy opened at a Christian community center facility in Montgomery...
and Grassroots Interactive
GrassRoots Interactive
GrassRoots Interactive , now defunct, was a small Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, lobbying firm controlled by Jack Abramoff. It was founded "with a $10,000 investment" by the company's sole owner, Republican lawyer Edward B...
.
Rudy pleaded guilty to conspiracy for corruption and fraud on March 31, 2006. Volz pleaded guilty to conspiracy for corruption and fraud on May 8, 2006.
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Boldface names have pleaded guilty or are identified in the criminal indictments/plea documents.