Where It Will Lead

First there was Michael Scanlon, then Adam Kidan. Now we have Jack Abramoff. Where are prosecutors heading with this? Even bigger fish to fry. That's where.

So far we have Adam Kiden pleading guilty, and also Scanlon, and now Jack Abramoff. The government's pattern is to get the lower levels talking and to move up the ladder. It reminds me of building a snowperson (called it a snowman back then). You keep rolling it across the ground and it picks up more snow until it gets very large. This is likely to be a VERY big snowperson.

The White Collar Crime Prof Blog is a good place to check on regarding the Abramoff scandal. They'll help cut through the media coverage and get to the heart of the matter.

Now, who you ask, are Scanlon and Kiden? Scanlon was a former aide to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and pleaded guilty to bribing a Member of Congress. Adam Kidan assisted Scanlon and Abramoff in this endeavor. Kidan also partnered with Abramoff in the purchase of SunCruz casinos.

UPDATE 1/6/2006:
Rep. Charles Rangel, who only a few days ago said that he wouldn't give back any monies relating to Abramoff or his Indian casino pals, has suddenly done an about face and will donate $2,000 to charity. But, he'll keep the rest of the $36,000. Seems to me that he's been reading tea leaves and realized that his earlier position was wholly untenable. The new position is better, but not by much.

What is the distinguishing factor between the money given to charity and the money retained? Rangel believes that the rest of the money had nothing to do with Abramoff directly. That's the same game being played all over D.C. right now. Splitting hairs over whether monies were directly attributable to Abramoff, his co-felons (Kidan and Scanlon), or the casinos they directly represented.

And like that, this scandal will melt away...