April 24, 2007
Abramoff acquaintance pleads guilty; Doolittle awaits government's next move
By David Whitney - Bee Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - They both were in their ascendancy, blind to the troubles ahead. And both were involved in an issue that helped a mutual friend, superlobbyist Jack Abramoff, and one of his lucrative clients, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
On Tuesday, Mark D. Zachares pleaded guilty to conspiracy in federal court in connection with his association with Abramoff, while Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, awaited the next move from the Department of Justice after FBI agents raided his Virginia home on April 13.
Nearly eight years ago, on Sept. 16, 1999, Doolittle and Zachares crossed paths as the House Resources Committee debated the Mariana Islands issue.
The hearing ostensibly was to look into reports of worker abuse in garment factories in the commonwealth. Critics, including the Clinton administration, said lax federal immigration policies had permitted Asian-owned companies to open low-wage plants there using immigrant labor and to sell their goods in the United States under a Made in the USA label.
The critics said fundamental immigration and labor reforms were necessary because the plants had become prison-like sweatshops. Reports of worker abuses alarmed human rights organizations.
But Republican leaders believed what was going on in the commonwealth was, as former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said in its defense, a Petri dish for capitalism.
At the hearing, Doolittle questioned Zachares, then a CNMI immigration official, in an effort to make the point that lax U.S. law enforcement was to blame for the problems in the U.S. territory.
Zachares was a key witness. He cited the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as among the U.S. agencies that could have done more to stop the abuses.
"And yet are these not two of the agencies making some of the most serious charges?" asked Doolittle.
"Yes, sir," Zachares replied.
"Doesn't that strike you as odd?" Doolittle asked.
"Yes, sir, I would agree with you," Zachares said under oath.
Richard Robinson, Doolittle's chief of staff, said Tuesday that the congressman had no recollection of Zachares, including any relationship he had with Abramoff.
According to Zachares' plea agreement, however, by the time of that hearing he and Abramoff were "personal and professional acquaintances" - close enough that the next year, in 2000, Abramoff tried hard - but in vain - to win Zachares a job with the Interior Department in Washington, D.C. In 2002, Abramoff had more success, landing Zachares a job with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee [Chaired by Rep Don Young (R-AK) at the time]. Twice in 2002 Abramoff sent $5,000 checks to Zachares, using the checkbook of a bogus charity for whom Doolittle's wife, Julie, later would be hired to raise money.
Within weeks of the 1999 hearing, Doolittle took steps that ultimately helped Abramoff renew his contract representing the commonwealth, and then met with Abramoff associate Kevin Ring to plan how to defeat reform legislation and fund Abramoff initiatives on the islands. During that period, Abramoff made his only direct political contributions to Doolittle, totaling $14,000.
Doolittle insists he has done nothing wrong, and will fight any charges the federal government brings against him in the Abramoff investigation.
Abramoff acquaintance pleads guilty; Doolittle awaits government's next move
By David Whitney - Bee Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON - They both were in their ascendancy, blind to the troubles ahead. And both were involved in an issue that helped a mutual friend, superlobbyist Jack Abramoff, and one of his lucrative clients, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
On Tuesday, Mark D. Zachares pleaded guilty to conspiracy in federal court in connection with his association with Abramoff, while Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, awaited the next move from the Department of Justice after FBI agents raided his Virginia home on April 13.
Nearly eight years ago, on Sept. 16, 1999, Doolittle and Zachares crossed paths as the House Resources Committee debated the Mariana Islands issue.
The hearing ostensibly was to look into reports of worker abuse in garment factories in the commonwealth. Critics, including the Clinton administration, said lax federal immigration policies had permitted Asian-owned companies to open low-wage plants there using immigrant labor and to sell their goods in the United States under a Made in the USA label.
The critics said fundamental immigration and labor reforms were necessary because the plants had become prison-like sweatshops. Reports of worker abuses alarmed human rights organizations.
But Republican leaders believed what was going on in the commonwealth was, as former Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said in its defense, a Petri dish for capitalism.
At the hearing, Doolittle questioned Zachares, then a CNMI immigration official, in an effort to make the point that lax U.S. law enforcement was to blame for the problems in the U.S. territory.
Zachares was a key witness. He cited the Occupational Health and Safety Administration and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as among the U.S. agencies that could have done more to stop the abuses.
"And yet are these not two of the agencies making some of the most serious charges?" asked Doolittle.
"Yes, sir," Zachares replied.
"Doesn't that strike you as odd?" Doolittle asked.
"Yes, sir, I would agree with you," Zachares said under oath.
Richard Robinson, Doolittle's chief of staff, said Tuesday that the congressman had no recollection of Zachares, including any relationship he had with Abramoff.
According to Zachares' plea agreement, however, by the time of that hearing he and Abramoff were "personal and professional acquaintances" - close enough that the next year, in 2000, Abramoff tried hard - but in vain - to win Zachares a job with the Interior Department in Washington, D.C. In 2002, Abramoff had more success, landing Zachares a job with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee [Chaired by Rep Don Young (R-AK) at the time]. Twice in 2002 Abramoff sent $5,000 checks to Zachares, using the checkbook of a bogus charity for whom Doolittle's wife, Julie, later would be hired to raise money.
Within weeks of the 1999 hearing, Doolittle took steps that ultimately helped Abramoff renew his contract representing the commonwealth, and then met with Abramoff associate Kevin Ring to plan how to defeat reform legislation and fund Abramoff initiatives on the islands. During that period, Abramoff made his only direct political contributions to Doolittle, totaling $14,000.
Doolittle insists he has done nothing wrong, and will fight any charges the federal government brings against him in the Abramoff investigation.
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