Judge May Have Stymied Abramoff Probe

Jack Abramoff leaves Federal Court in Washington in this Jan. 3, 2006 file photo. A judge agreed Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006 to again put off prison for disgraced lobbyist Abramoff and a former business partner, but the delays were shorter than what lawyers on both sides sought. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File) (Gerald Herbert - AP)

Officials also declined to say whether they would ask Huck to reconsider his ruling. Prosecutors had told Huck they would be willing to file sealed documents describing Abramoff's help, but as of Friday evening they had not.

Prosecutors have already won guilty pleas from Abramoff, Ney's former chief of staff and two aides to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Former Bush White House official David Safavian was found guilty in June of covering up his dealings with Abramoff while in the General Services Administration.

Abramoff and the House aides are cooperating in the bribery investigations.

Others under scrutiny who have not been charged and maintain their innocence include DeLay and Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., who received about $150,000 in donations from Abramoff and his associates and whose aides traveled on the lobbyist's jet to the 2001 Super Bowl.

Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., also used Abramoff's luxury sports box for a fundraiser without initially reporting it. Doolittle's wife and one of his former aides worked for Abramoff.

Steven Griles, a former deputy Interior Department secretary, is also under scrutiny, as is Italia Federici, former Interior Secretary Gale Norton's political fundraiser.

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Associated Press writer Curt Anderson in Miami contributed to this report.