'Abramoff Effect' Keeps Hammering Republicans

By John Bresnahan

(The Politico)  Imprisoned former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff is not scheduled to be released until December 2011, but the scandal bearing his name is still roiling the GOP. The latest victim is Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.), who announced today that he won't seek reelection this fall. Doolittle now becomes, by my count, the 15th person to retire, go to jail or just see an end to his/her political career due to involvement with Abramoff, and more names may be added soon.

Here's my list of those sunk by the "Abramoff effect," divided by category. If you think of anybody I've missed, please feel free to e-mail me or make a comment and I will update my list. Thanks to talkingpointsmemo.com for its list of Abramoff cronies.

Pleaded guilty, in prison: Abramoff*, former Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), J. Steven Griles, Adam Kidan

Pleaded guilty, headed to halfway house: Italia Federici

Pleaded guilty, not sentenced yet: Michael Scanlon, Tony Rudy

Pleaded guilty, with no prison time: Neil Volz, Will Heaton, Roger Stillwell

Convicted but appealing: David Safavian

Still under investigation: Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.), Julie Doolittle, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), Ed Buckham

Political career ruined but no charges after investigation: Former Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.)

Got off scot-free, despite getting millions of dollars from Abramoff: Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed

* Abramoff is serving 70 months in federal prison for fraud related to a Florida bank purchase. He has yet to be sentenced in a Washington case related to corrupt political activities.