JD Hayworth is one of five "first tier" lawmakers (3 Republican and 2 Democrat) to be targeted by the Justice Department investigation into influence-peddling on Capitol Hill, say sources close to the probe that has netted guilty pleas from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, reports the Washington Times today.
In an effort to reduce his 30-year prison sentence to 91/2 years, Abramoff has fingered the "Fab Five" has agreed with prosecutors to cooperate fully. Accroding to the Times, prosecutors have seized his computer hard drive and are reviewing 500,000 e-mails.
In an attempt to minimize his designation as one of the "Fab Five", JD nonchalantly accused the Justice Department of dereliction "if it did not examine everyone who ever accepted a contribution from Abramoff or any of his tribal clients, so I’m not surprised." However, JD was not exping to be on the front row this time.
Haywoth added he had performed many official acts benefiting Indian tribes, but had never performed any act specifically for an Abramoff client. He said Abramoff’s tribal clients had contributed to both his campaign and his political action committee, "which is not surprising since as chairman of the Native American Caucus, I have been in the forefront of issues affecting Indian Country and receive contributions from tribes across America."
He said he did not expect "this preliminary round of the inquiry to produce anything that would make any further examination necessary." Run, rabbit, run.
After standing in denial for month while the Demcrates challenged JD to return his dirty money, Haywoth has finally said he will return the cash received from Indian tribes, including money from those affiliated with Abramoff — which he will return. He told reporters in Arizona that the donations he received were being used to unfairly link him with Abramoff, adding that he did nothing wrong in accepting the $2,250 in 1998 and 1999 from three tribes once represented by Abramoff.
I’m sure he was thinking about this while he was sitting in his illegal skybox given to him by Abramoff last year.