November 14, 2005

Sen. John Cornyn linked to Jack Abramoff and Ralph Reed?

In 2001, Lobbyist Jack Abramoff was working for Louisiana's Coushatta Tribe in an apparent attempt to shut down the competition in Texas, which were costing that tribe customers. Ralph Reed worked as a consultant and allegedly tried to shut down two Texas casinos (including that of the Tigua Indians, which has a Hueco Tanks connection).

And:

Former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed claimed in a 2001 e-mail to a lobbyist that he choreographed John Cornyn's efforts as Texas attorney general to shut down an East Texas Indian tribe's casino.

...In the Nov. 30, 2001, e-mail, Reed told Abramoff that 50 pastors led by Ed Young, of Second Baptist Church in Houston, would meet with Cornyn to urge him to shut down the Alabama-Coushatta tribe's casino near Livingston. He said Young would back up the request in writing.

"We have also choreographed Cornyn's response. The AG will state that the law is clear, talk about how much he wants to avoid repetition of El Paso (where the Tigua casino was) and pledge to take swift action to enforce the law," Reed wrote. "He will also personally hand Ed Young a letter that commits him to take action in Livingston."

Cornyn, now a Republican U.S. senator, had filed a lawsuit in 1999 to shut down the casino operated by the Tigua tribe in El Paso, saying it violated the state's limited gambling laws. In 2002, federal courts shuttered the Tiguas' casino and Cornyn used that ruling to shut down the Alabama-Coushattas' casino.

Cornyn, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has denied knowing Abramoff. He also has said he was unaware of Reed's work with Abramoff.

He said he did not remember receiving a letter from Young or Reed, or providing a letter to Young; he acknowledged meeting with the minister...

It certainly has a he said-she said flavor to it, but see also The David Safavian, Grover Norquist, Chris Cannon connection and Chris Cannon, Grover Norquist, WSJ, Fox News all linked together?

More on Cornyn and by using the search box above.

Posted to Immigration2005b at November 14, 2005 06:20 AM

Comments

Read VDare on this guy, and above all read Marc Levin at vdare,

Posted by: Fred Dawes at November 14, 2005 04:22 PM