US: A well-connected Washington lobbyist agreed yesterday to give evidence against top politicians whom he allegedly bribed, in what analysts predict may prove the biggest congressional scandal in American history, writes Julian Borger in Washington
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to engaging in a conspiracy involving "corruption of public officials" as well as fraud and tax evasion, after striking a deal with federal prosecutors expected to lift the lid on a culture of corruption in Congress, in which legislative favours are routinely exchanged for lucrative perks.
Politicians from both parties received money from Mr Abramoff and his business clients, but the scandal is likely to inflict most damage on the Republican party, and could ultimately threaten its hold on Congress.
One of the party's most powerful figures, Tom DeLay, who was instrumental in orchestrating its victories in 2000, 2002 and 2004, is at the centre of the investigation for his close financial ties with Mr Abramoff.
"This is potentially the biggest congressional scandal in history," said Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor and the head of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog organisation. "Abramoff knew everybody. He knows how Washington works."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan was unable to say yesterday whether George Bush had ever met Mr Abramoff, but he denounced the lobbyist.
"What he is reportedly acknowledged doing is unacceptable and outrageous," he said. "If laws were broken, he must be held to account for what he did."
Mr Abramoff was a central fixture in Washington political life, wining and dining top politicians in his own restaurant, hosting them in plush corporate boxes at sporting events, and flying them on all-expenses-paid golf trips to Scotland.
Papers presented to a Washington court yesterday alleged that Mr Abramoff gave "money, meals, trips and entertainment to public officials and their relatives with the intent to influence and in return for agreements to perform official acts" benefiting Mr Abramoff and his clients.
Mr Abramoff was also expected to plead guilty to fraud in a separate case in Miami, involving his purchase in 2000 of a fleet of casino ships.
The fleet seller, Konstantinos Boulis, was shot dead a year later during a dispute over the sale.
The scandal will bring scrutiny of Mr DeLay's decade-long bid to pack Washington lobbying firms with Republicans. However, Stanley Brand, a former congressional lawyer, doubted if that scrutiny would lead to profound change in the way Washington does its business.
"Everyone will get worked into a lather and then they'll go back to what they've done for the past 200 years . . . You're not going to get money out of politics and you're not going to get influence out of government."