Jack Abramoff, former lobbyist and Brandeis class of '81 (yes really) is pleading guilty to felony charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, and tax evasion as part of a deal with federal prosecutors. Why is this a big deal? First of all, it means that someone who played a key role in taking lobbying to its extreme and fostering a cash-for-favors environment in Washington is being punished. But more importantly, it means that he'll probably be testifying about his dealings with various politicians, and I'm betting there are members of congress with their hands quite dirty.
There needs to be lobbying reform in Washington. But since that's not happening at the moment, this is pretty damn good.
UPDATE: Gwen emailed me this page, where one of Abramoff's Brandeis roommates talks about their time in college and what kind of person Jack was then. Interesting stuff.
Comments
Thanks for the link to my post. I'm hoping that Jack's college girlfriend will be writing something soon for my blog as well. That would be interesting.
Her sister just wrote to me & said that she intensely disliked Jack (called him a "lout"). But she also said her sister (the former girlfriend) harbors no ill will toward him.
He seems like the kind of person who could charm you when he wanted, but could just as easily make you detest him.
Posted by: Richard Silverstein | January 5, 2006 05:46 PM