In Light of New Email Evidence, Schumer Calls for President to Fully Disclose Meetings, and Any White House Contact with GOP Super-Lobbyist Abramoff

IN LIGHT OF NEW EMAIL EVIDENCE, SCHUMER CALLS FOR PRESIDENT TO FULLY DISCLOSE MEETINGS, AND ANY WHITE HOUSE CONTACTS WITH GOP SUPER-LOBBYIST ABRAMOFF

Newly Uncovered E-mails Indicate Cozier Bush-Abramoff Relationship Than Previously Acknowledged by President Bush

Schumer Renews Call for Special Counsel, Has Already Marshaled Support of 35 Other Democrats in Calls to Appoint a Special Counsel for Abramoff Scandal

Today U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer released the following letter to President Bush urging him again to immediately release all records of meetings, phone calls, and correspondence involving Jack Abramoff. Schumer also renewed his call for a Special Counsel to be appointed in the Abramoff Scandal investigation/case. It is clear that Abramoff had many significant relationships with members of the Bush Administration and in order for the public's confidence in our government to be restored; the Administration must be honest and forthright about its involvement with him. Schumer had previously called for a special counsel into the leak of a covert CIA operative, Valerie Plame, and persisted until one was appointed by the Justice Department. He has organized a majority of Democratic Senators (36) to call for a special counsel in the Abramoff scandal as well.

The letter to President Bush follows:

February 10, 2006

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. President:

In light of continuing and detailed reports that you and members of your Administration have had frequent contact with Jack Abramoff, I believe it is imperative that you clear the air. Therefore, I am reiterating, first, my request that you direct the White House to release all records of meetings, phone calls, and correspondence involving Jack Abramoff, and second, my call for a special counsel to oversee the Abramoff investigation.

Mr. Abramoff's significant ties to Republican leadership in Congress have already been well documented. Though White House Spokesman Scott McClellan originally insisted that Mr. Abramoff's visits to the White House involved two holiday receptions and a few "staff-level" meetings, the most recent revelations cast doubt on these explanations.

As reported in the media, in confidential e-mails recently sent by Mr. Abramoff himself, he stated that he met you in "almost a dozen settings." This latest revelation, of course, comes on top of other news reports that confirm that Mr. Abramoff saw you on several occasions and during some of those meetings, Mr. Abramoff and his family had their photos taken with you. Mr. Abramoff also organized at least one and possibly several meetings with White House staff for his clients. Again, this information reveals a relationship that is significantly more extensive than the one described by Mr. McClellan.

Given the numerous ties now documented between your Administration and Mr. Abramoff, we urge you to explain to the public the true extent of not only your personal interactions Mr. Abramoff but also the interactions between Mr. Abramoff and all White House personnel and officials.

To this end, I again ask that you provide to Congress and publicly disclose, among other things, e-mails between staff members and Jack Abramoff or his associates; video taken by the White House press office before every meeting; guest lists for holiday receptions; call logs; and WAVE records.

Also to this end, I urge you to ask Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to appoint a special counsel to oversee the Abramoff investigation. Given the latest evidence of possible ties between Mr. Abramoff and senior government officials, we believe the appointment of a special counsel is not only justified, but necessary. Appointment of a special counsel would ensure that the investigation and prosecution will proceed without fear or favor and provide the public with full confidence that no one in this country is above the law.

The Abramoff scandal continues to shake the public's confidence in our government; in order to truly clear the air and restore the faith of the American people, your Administration needs to be honest about its involvement with Mr. Abramoff and avoid any appearance of conflict in the ongoing investigation involving him and others.

Sincerely,

Sen. Charles E. Schumer

http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/pressroom/press_releases/2006/PR58.Abramoff%20Ltr.021006.html