October 03, 2004
Scanlon hiding out

Michael Scanlon, the DeLay who along with Jack Abramoff is under investigation for swindling an Indian tribe over lobbying fees for their casino, is holed up in his house so he can't get served with a subpoena.


Michael Scanlon, a public-relations consultant and former aide to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) now under investigation for his business dealings with Indian tribes, failed to show up to testify before a Senate panel yesterday after federal marshals were unable to serve him with the committee’s subpoena.

“The U.S. marshals tell us Mr. Scanlon is hiding out in his house with the blinds drawn,” said Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, after the hearing. “But we’re going to [subpoena] him again. He will be before the committee one way or another. … I want to ask him questions. He is going to have to duck and dodge.”

Scanlon was scheduled to testify before the committee yesterday in a hearing about allegations that he and lobbyist Jack Abramoff had misused up to $66 million in fees paid to them by six Indian tribes made wealthy by gaming revenue.

Scanlon’s lawyer, Stephen Braga, did not return a call for comment. Abramoff appeared at the hearing but invoked his Fifth Amendment right not to respond to questions.


How utterly craven. What a pathetic, sniveling coward he is. It would serve him right if he gets nailed while sneaking out to pick up his newspaper or something.

There's quite a bit more about the testimony so far, so read the whole thing. Via Alan.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on October 03, 2004 to Scandalized! | TrackBack
Comments

"Craven" is the precise word to describe Scanlon, Abramoff, and Christian Right lobbyist Ralph Reed. Their behavior in this affair is amoral, despicable -- and reflective of the lessons they learned in Tom DeLay's office about what's acceptable in the cowardly world of ideological overreach and partisan zealotry.

Posted by: Zangwell Arrow on October 3, 2004 10:25 AM

If you look around you will find that these are not the only tribes that that have fallen prey to fast talking lobbyist promising to work on the behalf of tribes but producing very little to nothing for their lofty fees.

It is about time that someone addressed this problem and assist tribes in this effort. There are credible firms out there and hopefully tribes will begin using them and achieve a better wellness for our people.

Posted by: Thomas Maynor II, MD, MPH on October 5, 2004 12:07 AM