D.C. Distracted By Scandal
As President Bush prepares to give his State of the Union speech, official Washington is distracted — not by policy debates or the war, but by scandal, says CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger.
Jack Abramoff, once a well-connected Republican lobbyist, is now singing to federal prosecutors in a congressional bribery scandal, and the dominoes have already begun to fall. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, was forced to step down as majority leader. Next, Ohio House Republican Bob Ney gave up a powerful committee chairmanship after prosecutors tied him to Abramoff.
While Democrats haven't received any money from Abramoff's own checkbook, they did receive $1.5 million he directed to them through his clients. So when 100 members rushed to send the Abramoff-tainted funds to charity, it was a bipartisan stampede. Even President Bush joined in, sending $6,000 in Abramoff donations to the American Heart Association. What Mr. Bush won't reveal is information regarding pictures taken of him with the lobbyist at White House functions. Although Abramoff was a top Bush moneyman, Mr. Bush says he doesn't know him.
But don't forget that other Washington scandal that still haunts the White House: the CIA leak investigation. Federal prosecutors want to know who if anyone in the administration knowingly leaked the identity of an undercover CIA agent to Washington journalists. That's a crime, and lying about it is one too.
Vice President Cheney's former chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has pled not guilty to charges related to the leak probe. The case is expected to drag on, maybe even beyond Mr. Bush's term. The question, says Borger, is, "Will Dick Cheney testify?"
Top presidential adviser Karl Rove is still under investigation for his role in the leaks. But prosecutors have been mum about whether an indictment is forthcoming. For the time being, Rove remains Mr. Bush's political point-man.
And there's more...
Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham resigned after admitting he took bribes from defense contractors. House Democrat Bill Jefferson was the target in an FBI sting in which cash was found in his freezer. He says he's innocent of any wrongdoing.
Mr. Bush is likely to support lobbying reform in his State of the Union speech. No doubt, Borger says, people are likely to applaud.