MEM is correct that Republicans collected more money for Abramoff and his clients.
However, Democrats collected quite a bit.
The Christian Science Monitor has reported that Democrats collected
thirty-six percent of the Abramoff-connected money.
That's hardly exculpatory.
However, it should be noted, and this applies to members of
both parties, that the fact that someone took money from Abramoff and his clients does not mean a crime was committed:
"It's not enough to say that Congressman X got this contribution and then voted this way. You need to show a specific link or agreement," says Randall Eliason, a law professor at American University.
Similarly
"It's not enough to take a campaign contribution," says Mr. Brand. "What's criminal is accepting the contribution in return for an express agreement to perform an official act. Beyond campaign contributions, one can't accept bribes or gratuities of any kind in return for official acts." Members of the executive branch may also be implicated in the investigation, he says.
"The line between a bribe and a legal contribution is very thin, but it is that line that keeps you out of jail," says Larry Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. "The critical element is whether there was an understanding or agreement to take specific action in return for the money."
Based on that, I'm willing to give most members of congress, democrat and republican, the benefit of a doubt, regardless of whether they took the lobbying money.
Are you?
