Ex-aide to Blunt, Bond pleads guilty in Jack Abramoff case
The federal investigation into corruption connected to the lobbying activities of Jack Abramoff just got more interesting in Missouri political circles. A former aide to Missouri Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond and U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt of Springfield pleaded guilty in federal court today.
AP has the story:
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former legislative aide to Missouri Sen. Kit Bond and Rep. Roy Blunt pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to hiding thousands of dollars of gifts from lobbyists, the latest political figure to go down in the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal.
Trevor L. Blackann, 34, pleaded guilty to not reporting more than $4,100 in illegal gifts from lobbyists on his 2003 tax forms, including tickets to the World Series, concerts and sporting events, free airfare and transportation, free meals and gifts and entertainment at a “gentleman’s club.”
The guilty plea came in U.S. District Court in front of Judge Richard W. Roberts.
In court documents, Blackann said two unnamed lobbyists worked directly with Abramoff, who has been sent to prison for corrupting Capitol Hill lawmakers with expensive meals, golf junkets, luxury sports tickets and other gifts. These lobbyists gave him the World Series tickets and other gifts.
Abramoff is now helping prosecutors go after other people he corrupted. With his help, the Justice Department has won corruption convictions against former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, former Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles and several top Capitol Hill aides.
Blackann said he pushed for a political appointment at the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the lobbyists, as well as officials actions that would be beneficial to Equipment Rental Co., a construction rental company. Blackann worked for Blunt, R-Mo., from 1998-2001 and Bond, R-Mo., from 2001-2005.
Blackann said in court documents he knew “the lobbyists gave these things of value for or because of official actions they were seeking from him or had obtained from him.”
He also said that the things he is pleading to “does not include all of the facts known to me concerning criminal activity in which I and/or others engaged.”
The Justice Department refused to comment on the case.
Why would an aide to Kit Bond feel so comfortable going corrupt? Is that the environment in Bond’s office? Yet another reason to send Kit packing in 2010 if he doesn’t do the right thing and retire - or resign.
“sighs loudly*–and yet another corrupt Repugnican. While folks from BOTH political parties certainly have their scandals, why do the Repugnican ones almost ALWAYS involve MONEY??? And usually it’s screwing other people out of it…while the Dems usually get caught with their pants down (literally).
Translation: most Dem scandals are “personal failures” that quite frankly are usually between spouses…but the Repugs continue railing against “immoral ” people all the while embezzling/stealing/cheating/etc. Worse yet–little to no remorse when they get caught: ted stevens/tom delay/sarah palin/ted haggerty/mark foley.
Go away, Conservatives…please just crawl back under your rocks and leave the rest of us in peace. m’kay?
This guy is small potatos - - corrupt and his career is over, but small.