Looks like the White House/Jack Abramoff relationship is getting fresh scrutiny.
In a letter to White House counsel Fred Fielding yesterday, Waxman wrote: "Despite the refusal of key witnesses to provide testimony, the Committee has learned that some senior White House officials had regular contact with Mr. Abramoff. Former White House political director Matt Schlapp [who worked for Karl Rove] cooperated with the Committee's investigation and provided voluntary testimony in a deposition. Mr. Schlapp estimated that he had 'monthly' contact with Jack Abramoff on subjects that often involved official government business. He also told the Committee that Mr. Abramoff and his associates 'had many friends in the administration'; that Mr. Abramoff was regarded as a 'point of information' because of 'his knowledge and his experience and his judgment on issues surrounding politics and policy and how the town works'; and that Mr. Abramoff's lobbying team was 'viewed by many as a very respected lobbying team.'"
Deduct a little bit of excitement from that: Abramoff was almost surely the type who inflated his relationships with powerful people, stretched the truth. Aside from the slight stretch, Henry Waxman is surely on the right track. He wants more documents. The White House is resisting.
Wrote Waxman: "When Mr. Abramoff pleaded guilty to corruption charges in January 2006, White House officials stated emphatically that Mr. Abramoff was a virtual stranger to the White House." He added, archly: "Given the prior statements by White House officials, it is surprising that there would be this volume of documents of internal deliberations involving Mr. Abramoff."
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