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Lamenting 'this nightmare,' former lobbyist Abramoff reports to prison
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published November 16, 2006
CUMBERLAND, Md. - Hours before entering federal prison Wednesday, ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff sent friends an e-mail lamenting "this nightmare" political scandal - but still looking optimistically to the future. Abramoff, who parlayed donations and gifts into political influence in Washington, reported to a Maryland prison where he will earn no more than 40 cents an hour for assigned jobs. In the Abramoff scandal, a congressman admitted corruption, a Bush administration official was convicted of lying and several aides have pleaded guilty. Shortly before dawn Wednesday, Abramoff sent an e-mail to friends thanking them for standing by him. He then set out for prison. He will serve a six-year sentence for a fraudulent Florida casino deal. He is awaiting sentencing in a Capitol Hill corruption case in which he also is the star witness. "I am confident that ultimately the turmoil will subside and we will have our lives back," Abramoff wrote. The message was provided to the Associated Press by one of his correspondents, who asked to remain anonymous. Abramoff was delivered to prison out of sight of reporters. From prison, Abramoff is to continue cooperating with the Justice Department, helping explain how he manipulated government decisions and who else was involved.
[Last modified November 16, 2006, 01:38:58]
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