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Investigating Abramoff -- Special Report

2006 Pulitzer Prize Winners

Explanatory Journalism | Criticism | Investigative | Beat Reporting

Investigative Reporting | The Washington Post's Susan Schmidt, James V. Grimaldi and R. Jeffrey Smith won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting for coverage of the Jack Abramoff scandal. Read their coverage below:

The Players | Timeline | Abramoff's Galaxy | Latest News

Jack Abramoff, Michael Scanlon, Tom DeLay

Former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison on March 29, after pleading guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in a deal that requires him to cooperate in an investigation into his relationshps with members of Congress. Sources familiar with the federal probe have told The Post that half a dozen lawmakers are under scrutiny, along with Hill aides, former business associates and government officials.

The scandal prompted Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and Rep. Robert Ney (R-Ohio) to give up their leadership posts, and on Oct. 13, 2006, Ney pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the scandal. On Jan. 19, 2007, Ney was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in the scandal. Two of Abramoff's former business partners have pleaded guilty. Three men have been arrested in the slaying of Gus Boulis, who sold Abramoff and partners a fleet of Florida casino ships in the fall of 2000. Another former Abramoff associate, David H. Safavian — most recently the top contracting official in the White House Office of Management and Budget — was convicted for lying about his dealings with Abramoff.

(Abramoff photo by Gerald Herbert - AP)

Post Coverage

Roots of the Scandal
• A Jackpot From Indian Gaming Tribes (Feb. 22, 2004)
• Probe Is Sought on Potential Corruption (Feb. 25, 2004)
• Insiders Worked Both Sides of Gaming Issue (Sept. 26, 2004)
• Papers Show Tribe Paid to Try to Sway Bill (Nov. 18, 2004)

Unraveling Abramoff's Web
• Casino Bid Prompted High-Stakes Lobbying (March 13, 2005)
• Graphic: The Abramoff Lobbying Machine (March 2005)
• Untangling a Lobbyist's Stake in a Casino Fleet (May 1, 2005)
• How a Lobbyist Stacked the Deck (Oct. 16, 2005) | Related Graphic
• The Fast Rise and Steep Fall of Jack Abramoff (Dec. 29, 2005)
• Graphic: The Abramoff Galaxy (Dec. 29, 2005)

DeLay and Abramoff
• Gambling Interests Funded DeLay Trip (March 12, 2005)
• DeLay Airfare Was Charged To Lobbyist's Credit Card (April 24, 2005)
• The DeLay-Abramoff Money Trail (Dec. 31, 2005)

The Federal Investigation
• Lawmaker's Abramoff Ties Investigated (Oct. 18, 2005)
• Abramoff Pleads Guilty to 3 Counts (Jan. 4, 2006)
• In Florida, Abramoff Again Pleads Guilty (Jan. 5, 2006)
• Abramoff Probe Turns Focus on DeLay Aide (Jan. 8, 2006)
• Abramoff Is Sentenced in Casino Boat Fraud (March 29, 2006)

Latest News

Former Gregg aide linked in Abramoff probe cleared of wrongdoing

The Justice Department has cleared a former top Senate staffer of any wrongdoing in connection with accepting more than $10,000 in sports tickets from former powerhouse lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the man's attorney said Thursday.

Awards and Honors

On Jan. 30, 2006, Post reporters Susan Schmidt, James V. Grimaldi and R. Jeffrey Smith won the Worth Bingham Prize for their coverage of the Abramoff scandal. The prize honors the best investigative reporting of the previous year in U.S. newspapers or news magazines. The trio won a second award on Feb. 27, 2006 for their coverage of the lobbyist and his activities. The 2006 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting recognizes the previous year's outstanding work that led to direct results.

Graphic

The Abramoff Galaxy
Jack Abramoff is negotiating a possible deal with federal prosecutors to plead guilty and cooperate with their investigation into corruption in Washington. For more than five years, Abramoff was one of the capital's most prominent Republican lobbyists. E-mails, documents and interviews with his former associates show that he set up many interlocking political and business entities to raise money, pay for lawmaker trips and other favors, fund his pet projects and gain influence for himself and his clients. The Justice Department has been looking into his relationships with a half-dozen members of Congress, as well as with Hill aides, government officials and business associates.

Ex-GSA Official Sentenced in Abramoff-Related Case (Post, October 17, 2009)

Abramoff Associate Was a 'Corrupter,' Not a Lobbyist, Prosecutors Tell Jury (Post, September 12, 2009)

Jury Selection Begins for Abramoff Associate's Trial (Post, September 8, 2009; 11:44 AM)

Abramoff Lawyers Ask for Access to Tax Refund (Post, June 3, 2009; 4:21 PM)

Abramoff Should Forfeit Tax Refund, Justice Dept. Says (Post, May 21, 2009; 7:58 PM)

Abramoff Scandal Yields More Charges (Post, February 21, 2009)

D.C. Man With Ties to Abramoff Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy (Post, December 12, 2008; 1:13 PM)

Jury Selection Begins in Case Connected to Abramoff (Post, December 1, 2008; 2:44 PM)

Abramoff Gets Reduced Sentence of Four Years in Prison: Judge Cites Assistance Ex-Lobbyist Provided In Corruption Probe (Post, September 5, 2008)

Abramoff's Cooperation Brings Call for Leniency (Post, August 28, 2008)

Abramoff's Gifts Didn't Influence Bush, Report Says (Post, June 10, 2008)

Ex-Official Linked to Abramoff Pleads Guilty (Post, April 23, 2008)