Conrad Burns cleared in Abramoff investigation

[HelenaCat95]

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles ... -burns.txt


Federal investigation over, Burns' attorney says
Ex-senator's records were available to the probe, lawyer says
By NOELLE STRAUB
Gazette Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Former Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., is no longer under investigation by the Justice Department for his connections to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Burns' lawyer, Ralph Caccia, said in a release that the department's Public Integrity Section notified him it had concluded its investigation of Burns. A Justice Department spokesman confirmed that it has concluded its investigation but declined to comment further.

"I am pleased that after a complete review of this matter, the Department of Justice has ended its inquiry," Burns said in a statement.

"I never doubted that the baseless and politically motivated charges leveled against me would be found to be without merit," Burns added. "My family has paid a great price during this three-year period and we are thankful it is now over." Burns said he was never interviewed as part of the investigation.

The release said Burns made all records from his office going back nearly a decade available to the government for review, including all electronic records, and that he "preserved them at considerable expense." Burns used campaign contributions to pay for preserving his computer files.

A Federal Election Commission report showed that Burns paid the law firm Powell Goldstein LLP, where Caccia works, more than $160,000 between January and March of 2007. About $60,000 went to the firm to take all the data from the hard drives of every computer in his Senate office and store it, Burns said in an interview last year.

Burns accepted about $150,000 in contributions from Abramoff, his clients and associates, the highest total of anyone in Congress. He later gave the money away.

Abramoff's sentencing has been delayed while he continues to cooperate with federal investigators about his dealings with lawmakers. A former congressman, Capitol Hill staffers and administration officials have been convicted.

The Abramoff controversy played a large role in Burns' re-election bid in 2006, which he lost by less than 1 percent of the vote. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who defeated him, hammered home the ethics theme throughout the race.

Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation.

"From the get-go I did not lose faith in the system and as I knew justice would prevail when I offered complete cooperation with the government's inquiry," Burns said.

"I understand that politics is a contact sport and what sustained me through this was my unyielding faith in the system," he said. "I am proud of my 18 years of service in the United States Senate and considered it a high honor to represent the folks in Montana. Now I move on to other interests. I thank God every day that we live in this greatest nation on the planet where truth prevails."

In an interview shortly after he lost his bid for re-election, Burns said the media should not have mentioned Abramoff so often when "there was no proof that I'd broken any law and violated any ethics."

Burns said he was "hung in the court of public opinion" rather than presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Burns now works at Gage LLC, a Washington-based lobbying firm headed by his former chief of staff, Leo Giacometto. Calls left for him at Gage, the contact listed on the press release, were not returned Wednesday evening.

Gage lobbied for programs for which Burns helped secure money while a senator. Ryan Thomas, a former Burns staffer who attended a 2001 Super Bowl trip paid for by Abramoff, also works at Gage.

"During this era of 'political character assassination' used for pure political gain, I would hope good men and women will continue to step forward to serve," Burns said. "Phyllis and I are enjoying our new life in Montana and Washington, D.C., with our family and friends. We shall be eternally grateful for their unwavering support and faith."

Burns also has an interest in a new rural technology company, sits on the board of a new business bringing communication systems to the other side of the world and takes speaking engagements through his auction business.

"There are great challenges in the information age with new-generation technologies, and availability and accessibility are key to improving education, health care and the quality of life for all who live on this planet," he said.


Published on Thursday, January 03, 2008.
Last modified on 1/3/2008 at 12:12 am

[longhorn_22]

"Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation."

I wonder when all the headlines are going to crucify Tester and his fundraising problems? Wait, I know the answer to that.

[crazycat]

A Justice Department spokesman confirmed that it has concluded its investigation but declined to comment further.

It doesn't sound like he's been necessarily been cleared. Just that the investigation is done.

[Grizlaw]

"Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation."

I wonder when all the headlines are going to crucify Tester and his fundraising problems? Wait, I know the answer to that.

Forgive me; I haven't followed these things that closely since I've left the state, but -- what are Tester's fundraising problems?

[SonomaCat]

"Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation."

I wonder when all the headlines are going to crucify Tester and his fundraising problems? Wait, I know the answer to that.

Forgive me; I haven't followed these things that closely since I've left the state, but -- what are Tester's fundraising problems?

I suspect there have been none, but rather he is just suggesting that Burns' problems were a liberal media conspiracy, and further suggesting that Tester won't suffer the same fate because the liberal media won't do that to him.

[HelenaCat95]

"Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation."

I wonder when all the headlines are going to crucify Tester and his fundraising problems? Wait, I know the answer to that.

Forgive me; I haven't followed these things that closely since I've left the state, but -- what are Tester's fundraising problems?

He took money from Hsu. I can't recall the details, but Hsu was involved in a fundraising scandal where he basically paid people to donate to campaigns.

I'll say what I said during Burns difficulties....it is not illegal to take money from a donor, as long as the donation is within the legal limit. Burns/Tester cannot and should not be expected to "police" every donation that comes in. The problem is tht the Democrats, and the press, basically tried and convicted Senator Burns.....and now the investigation is concluded. As Crazycat said, it may be too early to say he was "cleared", but it certainly looks that way.

Remember, this Senate election was decided by 3,500 votes. And the current makeup of the Senate is tied 49-49 (with Lieberman and Sanders and Independents...who caucus with the Democrats, thereby giving them a 51-49 majority.

If the press had done better due diligence with this (rather than the rumor and innuendo put forward the Dem party), it is not unreasonable to think that it would have swayed 1,800+ votes, leading to Burns keeping his seat and the Republicans control of the US Senate.

Don't get me wrong...Conrad has many bumps, bruises and warts that could and would cause someone to vote for any opponent of his. But it looks like the "scandal" that led to his demise was really nothing more than a political dirty trick, which led to Democratic control of the US Senate.

[crazycat]

"Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation."

I wonder when all the headlines are going to crucify Tester and his fundraising problems? Wait, I know the answer to that.

Forgive me; I haven't followed these things that closely since I've left the state, but -- what are Tester's fundraising problems?

He took money from Hsu. I can't recall the details, but Hsu was involved in a fundraising scandal where he basically paid people to donate to campaigns.

I'll say what I said during Burns difficulties....it is not illegal to take money from a donor, as long as the donation is within the legal limit. Burns/Tester cannot and should not be expected to "police" every donation that comes in. The problem is tht the Democrats, and the press, basically tried and convicted Senator Burns.....and now the investigation is concluded. As Crazycat said, it may be too early to say he was "cleared", but it certainly looks that way.

Remember, this Senate election was decided by 3,500 votes. And the current makeup of the Senate is tied 49-49 (with Lieberman and Sanders and Independents...who caucus with the Democrats, thereby giving them a 51-49 majority.

If the press had done better due diligence with this (rather than the rumor and innuendo put forward the Dem party), it is not unreasonable to think that it would have swayed 1,800+ votes, leading to Burns keeping his seat and the Republicans control of the US Senate.

Don't get me wrong...Conrad has many bumps, bruises and warts that could and would cause someone to vote for any opponent of his. But it looks like the "scandal" that led to his demise was really nothing more than a political dirty trick, which led to Democratic control of the US Senate.

http://www.seeingtheforest.com/archives ... n_pros.htm

I'd say eliminating this 'scandal' only opens up a new for the Republicans.

Funny how all those corruption investigations stopped when all those prosecutors got fired, isn't it? Here's another: Burns no longer part of Abramoff probe,

Former Sen. Conrad Burns is no longer part of a federal investigation of jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Burns, R-Mont., narrowly lost re-election to a fourth term in 2006 after Democrats made his relationship with Abramoff a central issue. Abramoff is the key figure in a corruption investigation that has led to convictions of a former congressman, legislative aides, lobbyists and officials in the Bush administration.

I'm not saying Burns was involved with Abramoff or not. I AM saying that there is no reason to have any confidence that anyone in this Justice Department is interested in finding out. He's a Republican, so the case is dropped. We know that the reason those prosecutors who were fired was they wouldn'[t "play ball" with the politicization, and we know the ones who did and dropped investigations of Republicans and/or initiated investigations of Democrats kept their jobs. They are still there, the Congress isn't doing their job of getting to the bottom of this, so we're left with the assumption of political interference and corruption.

[HelenaCat95]

If the Justice Department was truly playing politics on this issue, they would have concluded it and cleared him before the election.

[crazycat]

If the Justice Department was truly playing politics on this issue, they would have concluded it and cleared him before the election.

Maybe, and I'm not sure of the timeline, but that probably would've drawn attention to their own problem.

[SonomaCat]

Was the prosecutor that was handling Burns case one of the prosecutors that was fired and replaced with a hack?

If so, it would raise eyebrows. If not, then the dots don't appear to connect.

[DCC2MSU]

"Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation."

I wonder when all the headlines are going to crucify Tester and his fundraising problems? Wait, I know the answer to that. :roll:

Forgive me; I haven't followed these things that closely since I've left the state, but -- what are Tester's fundraising problems?

He took money from Hsu. I can't recall the details, but Hsu was involved in a fundraising scandal where he basically paid people to donate to campaigns.

I'll say what I said during Burns difficulties....it is not illegal to take money from a donor, as long as the donation is within the legal limit. Burns/Tester cannot and should not be expected to "police" every donation that comes in. The problem is tht the Democrats, and the press, basically tried and convicted Senator Burns.....and now the investigation is concluded. As Crazycat said, it may be too early to say he was "cleared", but it certainly looks that way.

Remember, this Senate election was decided by 3,500 votes. And the current makeup of the Senate is tied 49-49 (with Lieberman and Sanders and Independents...who caucus with the Democrats, thereby giving them a 51-49 majority.

If the press had done better due diligence with this (rather than the rumor and innuendo put forward the Dem party), it is not unreasonable to think that it would have swayed 1,800+ votes, leading to Burns keeping his seat and the Republicans control of the US Senate.

Don't get me wrong...Conrad has many bumps, bruises and warts that could and would cause someone to vote for any opponent of his. But it looks like the "scandal" that led to his demise was really nothing more than a political dirty trick, which led to Democratic control of the US Senate.

I don't see a problem with the press reporting that he did in fact take money from Abramoff (the most of anyone in office?) and that he was being investigated. Which part of that is wrong? And why shouldn't the democratic party have made that an issue?

[SonomaCat]

It was actually Abramoff that did the most damage to Burns when he called out Burns in the Vanity Fair (I think that's where it was) article where he bragged about how much control he had over Burns.

I'm pretty sure the Democrats didn't force Abramoff to do that.

I do think a lot of the accusations about Burns changing votes as per Abramoff's checks were cashed were untrue (and were instead coincidence), but what took Burns down wasn't the Democrats, but it was instead Abramoff when he was pissed at Burns for publicly stating something like "I wish he'd never been born" or something like that.

You just don't throw a guy who has dirt on you (or has the ability to create dirt on you) under the bus in a situation like that.

[crazycat]

Was the prosecutor that was handling Burns case one of the prosecutors that was fired and replaced with a hack?

If so, it would raise eyebrows. If not, then the dots don't appear to connect.

Could be that the prosecutor handling the Burns case was already a hack and didn't 'need' to be fired. So, while possible, that's not necessarily the case. My point isn't that Burns was or wasn't invovled just that this news could be a little flimsy in terms of clearly Burns. Not that I know what would constitute firm news in support of Burns.

[HelenaCat95]

"Tester's office declined to comment on the close of the investigation."

I wonder when all the headlines are going to crucify Tester and his fundraising problems? Wait, I know the answer to that.

Forgive me; I haven't followed these things that closely since I've left the state, but -- what are Tester's fundraising problems?

He took money from Hsu. I can't recall the details, but Hsu was involved in a fundraising scandal where he basically paid people to donate to campaigns.

I'll say what I said during Burns difficulties....it is not illegal to take money from a donor, as long as the donation is within the legal limit. Burns/Tester cannot and should not be expected to "police" every donation that comes in. The problem is tht the Democrats, and the press, basically tried and convicted Senator Burns.....and now the investigation is concluded. As Crazycat said, it may be too early to say he was "cleared", but it certainly looks that way.

Remember, this Senate election was decided by 3,500 votes. And the current makeup of the Senate is tied 49-49 (with Lieberman and Sanders and Independents...who caucus with the Democrats, thereby giving them a 51-49 majority.

If the press had done better due diligence with this (rather than the rumor and innuendo put forward the Dem party), it is not unreasonable to think that it would have swayed 1,800+ votes, leading to Burns keeping his seat and the Republicans control of the US Senate.

Don't get me wrong...Conrad has many bumps, bruises and warts that could and would cause someone to vote for any opponent of his. But it looks like the "scandal" that led to his demise was really nothing more than a political dirty trick, which led to Democratic control of the US Senate.

I don't see a problem with the press reporting that he did in fact take money from Abramoff (the most of anyone in office?) and that he was being investigated. Which part of that is wrong? And why shouldn't the democratic party have made that an issue?

He did take money from Abramoff....but it was legal. He did not accept money from "convicted felon Jack Abramoff". In fact, it was after Abramoff was exposed for the person he is that Conrad gave away the money.
I don't want to go back through the archives of the Gazette on this....but it was the Democrats, and the press who copied them, who constantly referred to this as the "Culture of Corruption", which has not been proven.
In addition, there were reports in the press during the campaign that "sources inside the Justice Department indicate an indictment is coming soon".

I really don't fault the Democrats for making it an issue....that's part of how the game is played. But I do fault the press for not doing their due diligence.

[mslacat]

I love our code of ethics now accepted by the public:
"technically there was nothing illegal about it"

[catamaran]

As much as I disliked Conrad personally, I don't remember a lot of saber rattling for Max, who took a good chunk from Abramhoff as well

[HelenaCat95]

I love our code of ethics now accepted by the public:
"technically there was nothing illegal about it"

Well, I didn't use the word "technically".

But is there another standard that one should go by when raising money? At the time of the donations, it is my understanding that Abramoff was not convicted....nor even accused of wrong-doing.

[AlphaGriz1]

Burns got screwed.

He did nothing wrong as far as a politician is concerned.


Is fatboy still in Washington DC?

I haven't heard a thing about him.

[Ponycat]

As much as I disliked Conrad personally, I don't remember a lot of saber rattling for Max, who took a good chunk from Abramhoff as well

Or Harry Reid, or as was stated above the money Tester took from Hsu.

[grizzh8r]

Burns got screwed.

He did nothing wrong as far as a politician is concerned.


Is fatboy still in Washington DC?

I haven't heard a thing about him.

"I'm John Tester, and I look like an Iowa Corn Farmer."