E-Mails Show Ex-Interior Official's Links to Lobbyist

The Washington Post has reported that Abramoff's team got the $3 million grant for the tribe later that year after Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) pressured the Bureau of Indian Affairs to release the funds. Burns received $137,000 in contributions from Abramoff lobbyists and their tribal clients.

Abramoff built his business with the tribes by touting ties to leaders such as former House majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.). Among e-mails released this week are several from 2002 in which Abramoff exhorted members of his lobbying team to raise money from their clients for Abramoff's personal charity, the Capital Athletic Foundation. Senate investigators have accused Abramoff of misusing the charity by funding activities such as an Israeli sniper school on the West Bank.

Abramoff wrote to lobbyist Tony C. Rudy, a former DeLay staffer, that DeLay "wants us to raise some bucks" for the foundation.

Richard Cullen, a lawyer for DeLay, said that he had not seen the e-mails, but that DeLay "has no recollection about this at all."

Rudy asked another lobbyist to get the Saginaw Chippewa tribe to donate $25,000, saying, "Jack wants this." Lobbyist Todd A. Boulanger queried: "What is it? I've never heard of it." Rudy replied: "It is something our friends are raising money for."

Boulanger replied: "I'm sensing shadiness. I'll stop asking." Said Rudy: "Your senses are good. If you have to say leadership is asking, please do. I already have."

Rudy and Abramoff parted ways within weeks of this exchange, with Rudy joining another firm.

In August 2002, Abramoff e-mailed the tribe again, seeking the $25,000 for "the DeLay thing." Foundation ledgers show it was not DeLay but another member of Congress who benefited from the charity's spending that summer. The foundation spent $166,634 on expenses related to a golf trip to Scotland that Abramoff organized for Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio).