By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Tuesday, January 10, 2006; C03

The Suits of Jack Abramoff, Awaiting Civil Settlement

As the cameras snapped disgraced lobbyistJack Abramoff-- fresh from pleading guilty to fraud, tax evasion and bribing public officials -- his tailor watched in horror. "Everybody say they thought this was my suit," saidEza Sabatini.

For the record: Not, not, not a Mr. Sabatini creation. On top of the allegations of bribes and conspiracy, the scandal that threatens to overwhelm Washington, there's the tragedy of Abramoff's ill-fitting wardrobe. "Now's he's in big trouble because he's gained all this weight and he can't find a suit to wear," Sabatini declared.

This tragic tale of unsuitable attire began a few years ago when the master tailor began making custom suits for the lobbyist. Sabatini, 61, comes from a family of Italian tailors and has been making luxury duds for A-list men for more than 35 years. He's stitched up suits forJimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Jim WrightandOliver North-- custom suits (gorgeous fabrics, hand stitching) start at $2,200; made-to-measure (ready to wear, but nicer) begin at $1,200.

When Sabatini was originally summoned to Abramoff's home, he delivered the bad news: "When I visit him for the first time, I advise him not to wear many, many suits he has," Sabatini recalled in his charmingly fractured English. Abramoff agreed and ordered custom creations that would flatter his every inch. He was a big guy back then, the equivalent of a 52 long with a 45 1/2 -inch waist. Sabatini made a few suits, which fit him like a glove.

About a year ago, Abramoff dropped 40 or so pounds, and Sabatini was once again called to Silver Spring. Abramoff insisted the tailor alter his old suits, which the perfectionist Sabatini explained was impossible for an elegant, proper fit. Instead, Sabatini said he offered a $3,000 discount for three new suits (skinny new Jack was a 43 long with a 36 1/2 waist) and, to keep him happy, also offered to buy back four bigger suits and a sport coat for $2,000.

Last fall, Sabatini got a call from Abramoff's secretary asking if he still had the old suits -- Abramoff had gained weight and wanted them back, free. Luckily, the tailor did have the suits, Sabatini told her, and reminded her about the $2,000.

"Send them to his home and we'll send a check," she promised. Sabatini, no fool, sent them COD instead. No cash, and the boxes came back. The secretary called back, shocked that Sabatini didn't trust her boss.

"I'm an old-fashioned guy," said Sabatini yesterday. "I don't think because he's a big shot or rich that he should treat people with lower respect." The suits remain with the tailor, and Abramoff is wearing too-tight clothes of unknown origin.

The lobbyist has no comment, said Abramoff spokesmanAndrew Blum.

New York Times columnistTom Friedmandoesn't like big gas-guzzlers. "I think it should be against the law to drive a Hummer," the "geo-green" guy told Grist magazine in April. "My mantra is very simple: If you want to drive a Hummer, go to Iraq." And he's not too fond of General Motors, which produces the SUV. "If I am rooting for General Motors to go bankrupt and be bought out by Toyota, does that make me a bad person?" he wrote in June.

"Yes!" saysDebbie Dingell, vice chairman of the GM Foundation. So Dingell did what a Motor City fan with a flair for publicity would do: She arrived at Friedman's home in Bethesda last night driving a silver H3, the new "baby Hummer," touted as getting 16 to 19 miles per gallon. "What bothers me is that he's not taking the time to understand what we're building in Detroit," she said. "I get so mad."

Friedman, hosting a fundraiser for WETA, "could not have been nicer," said Dingell. "I told him, 'I have a Hummer outside,' and he laughed. I said, 'All I want you to do is come to Detroit and understand what the domestic industry is doing.' "

Turns out Friedman's flying to Detroit next week for the auto show and promised to make time to see what the industry is doing with hybrid technology. We'll tell you his vehicle of choice next week.

Splitting:ActorsHilary Swank, 31, andChad Lowe, 37, are separating after eight years of marriage, her manager said in a statement yesterday. The award-winning duo -- forgot about his '93 supporting-actor Emmy for "Life Goes On," didn't you? -- met 13 years ago when she was an unknown and he wasRob Lowe's on-the-rise little brother. Their union survived her vault to the big leagues in "Boys Don't Cry" and the nation's collective wince as she conspicuously forgot to thank him in her 2000 Oscar speech; she made it up to him last year when she collected her second Best Actress statuette for "Million Dollar Baby."

Swank's manager said the two are "hopeful they'll be able to get through this tough time," which seemed to leave the door open to a reconciliation. The couple have no children, a completely enviable $4 million townhouse in the West Village and joint producership of the cable game show "Celebrity Charades."

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"I consider one candidate mother. He considers both candidates that you're referring to [as] friends. "

-- White House spokesmanScott McClellantrying to explain away any possible conflict between him and the president now that his mom, Texas ComptrollerCarole Keeton Strayhorn, has announced she will ditch the GOP to run for governor as an independent against his boss's pick, Republican incumbent Rick Perry . McClellan ducked teasing questions in yesterday's press briefing about whether he will travel with President Bush to campaign for Perry and asserted that Mom "has my full support."