Arrest in Abramoff Scandal

A former lobbyist was arrested yesterday in the Abramoff scandal, according to this report.

The FBI today arrested Kevin Ring, a former lobbyist, for his alleged role in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Justice Department officials said that the FBI arrested Ring this morning at his Maryland home. He is charged in a 10-count public-corruption indictment, the officials said. Ring is a former congressional staffer for Rep. John Doolittle (R-Ca.)

The indictment charges Ring with conspiring with Abramoff and others to corrupt congressional and executive-branch officials by providing things of value to several public officials “to induce or reward those who took official actions benefiting Ring and his clients.”

As reported by the Associated Press, Ring is a one-time congressional aide who went on to
work with jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Ring, 37, pleaded not guilty to a 10-count federal
indictment that accuses him of conspiring with Abramoff to win assistance from congressional and executive-branch officials by giving them things of value, and helping them skirt requirements to report those gifts.

He appeared in federal court unshaven, his hair rumpled, wearing shorts and a T-shirt and occasionally fighting back tears as he exchanged glances with his wife.

Montana: “Thankless Task”

The Billings Gazette has this story on the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices.

As Montana’s top campaign cop, Dennis Unsworth isn’t destined to make a lot of close friends among state politicians and political parties.

That’s how it is, and that’s how it should be for Montana’s political-practices commissioner. Like his predecessors, Unsworth must make the tough calls when political parties and candidates file ethics complaints against their political opponents and question the truthfulness of their advertising against them.

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae PACs

Let’s say your organization is a major part of the U.S. economy and has been hurt by the housing slump.  Your organization is so important, that the U.S. government may even “bail you out” to prevent what some may see as damage to the economy.  Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae both have active PACs.   According to OpenSecrets, Freddie Mac PAC has donated 50% to Republicans and 50% to Democrats, while Fannie Mae PAC has favored Democrats.  What happens to the PACs now?