BREAKING: Rove & Mehlman Possibly Implicated In Abramoff Scandal

David Sirota writes:

Roll Call has breaking news on a new congressional report that is expected to be released showing “hundreds of contacts between top White House officials and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates” that “raise serious questions about the legality and actions” of those officials.

Here’s the key excerpt:

“The 95-page report, which White House officials reviewed Wednesday evening but has yet to be formally approved by the panel, singled out two of President Bush’s top lieutenants, Karl Rove and Ken Mehlman, as having been offered expensive meals and exclusive tickets to premier sporting events and concerts by Abramoff and his associates. In total, the committee was able to document 485 contacts between White House officials and Abramoff and his lobbying team at the firm Greenberg Traurig from January 2001 to March 2004, with 82 of those contacts occurring in Rove’s office, including 10 with Rove personally. The panel also said that Abramoff billed his clients nearly $25,000 for meals and drinks with White House officials during that period…During the period examined by the committee, Bush administration officials repeatedly intervened on behalf of Abramoff’s clients.”

Here's the full story: Roll Call. Another excerpt:

The committee was able to uncover numerous times when Abramoff and his associates attended social events with senior White House aides using tickets or passes supplied by Abramoff. For instance, Abramoff attended an NCAA Tournament college basketball game with Rove in March 2002. Afterward, Abramoff told an associate that Rove was “a great guy” who told him “anytime we need something, just let him know” via Rove’s assistant, Susan Ralston. Ralston worked for Abramoff before moving over to the White House.