Abramoff warns of corruption

Abramoff warns Kentucky lawmakers of slipping into corruption
Written by Mike Wynn The Courier-Journal


FRANKFORT, KY. — Disgraced Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff cautioned Kentucky lawmakers Wednesday that ordinary, well-meaning people can succumb to political corruption under the influence of creeping arrogance and free-spending lobbying groups.

“I thought I was the good guy,” Abramoff said. “I thought I was actually one of the moral lobbyists. ... I was so deeply enmeshed and immersed in this system that I didn’t realize that I was doing some really bad stuff until somebody hit me in the head with a two-by-four.”

Abramoff — who served 3½ years in prison and was hit with a $44 million restitution order after pleading guilty to tax evasion, fraud and corruption in 2006 — published a memoir on his exploits in November and is speaking to groups across the country.

The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission paid him a $5,000 speaking fee, plus expenses, to provide an insider’s perspective on government corruption as part of the ethics training that all lawmakers are required to take each year at the start of a legislative session.

During his hour-long talk, Abramoff recalled how he rose from a young politico and filmmaker to one of the most powerful lobbyists in the nation, currying favor in 100 political offices with gifts and campaign contributions.

His firm was spending $1.5 million each year just on sports tickets before his scandal erupted eight years ago, he said.

“I started losing sight of the lines in the sand between right and wrong, not only being enveloped by the culture there, but being really the tip of the spear of some of the stuff that went on down there,” he said. “That attitude, an attitude of winning at all costs, ultimately led me to cross lines and do things that I regret.”

Ambramoff touched on lobbying strategies, policy recommendations and personal accounts of the Washington political culture.

He said that, while society draws distinctions between political contributions and bribes, a period of introspection in prison led him to conclude that all donations to lawmakers are essentially bribes when intended to gain influence.

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“A public servant works for the public — doesn’t work for the lobbyist,” he said. “Basically, at the end of the day, any gratuity received by a public servant from anybody who is trying to get something out of that public servant is a problem.”

Lawmakers never believe they will be bought, Abramoff added. But he warned that lobbyists become successful by building relationships and that gifts or contributions are designed to take advantage of a person’s natural instincts to express gratitude.

“When somebody does something good for you, you are going to have to feel that way in your soul, and when you do I would hold that that is the problem,” he said, urging lawmakers to stay “five steps ahead.”

Abramoff, who along with his wife gave about $150,000 in political donations each year while he was lobbying, is calling for reforms in Washington to prevent lobbyists from making direct contributions to politicians — something Kentucky law already prohibits.

Lawmakers were asked to submit questions for Abramoff in writing. In response to one question on gambling, Abramoff warned that the gaming industry can inject large amounts of money into politics. But he added later that gambling is no different than any other monied interest.

Another written question asked if receiving $5,000 in taxpayers’ money to speak wasn’t itself an abuse of the system.

John Schaaf, general counsel for the ethics commission, responded by saying Abramoff received the standard speaking fee, and he called the talk a “worthwhile expenditure” to better understand how Washington works. He said later that he did not hear any complaints and that several members praised the choice of a speaker.

In an interview afterward, Abramhoff said he is not in any position to exploit taxpayers, considering that his income and spending are monitored as part of his restitution order. He also said he reduced his typical speaking fee of $15,000 to $20,000.

Rep. Mike Harmon, R-Danville, said he had some reservations initially but believes Abramoff made some good points and was worth the speaking fee.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said the talk will help lawmakers discern what is proper in their relationships with lobbyists.

“When you hear what ... these people are thinking from their perspective, it’s an eye-opener,” he said.