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11/23/2005:

"Growing corruption scandal threatens to engulf Republicans"

The Republican party was yesterday facing a fast-growing corruption scandal with potentially serious implications for next year's elections after a well-connected Washington lobbyist pleaded guilty to bribing a congressman and other public officials.

The plea by Michael Scanlon is a breakthrough in an investigation of influence-peddling in Congress that could reach top levels of the party. It comes at a time when the Republicans are already nervous about next November's congressional elections, with public support for the Iraq war falling away and the White House under the cloud of an intelligence leak investigation.

"The potential is huge," said Thomas Mann, a political analyst at the Brookings Institution. "We've never seen an example as egregious as this with these sums of money, the bilking, the cynicism and linkages... I think you're going to see a string of indictments."

Mr Scanlon is expected to give evidence against public officials alleged to have accepted bribes, including free golfing trips to Scotland, restaurant meals and sports tickets, in return for pushing legislation favourable to clients of Mr Scanlon and his boss, Jack Abramoff, a Washington super-lobbyist who is also under investigation.
guardian.co.uk