Michael Scanlon

Michael Scanlon was a lobbyist, public relations consultant and former aide to Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who pleaded guilty to corruption-related charges on November 21, 2005.

Scanlon's public relations firm, Capitol Campaign Strategies, received millions of dollars from tribes involved in gambling casinos, funneling the money to conservative causes and Republican party organizations through a network of political consultants and right-wing organizations linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Career
Scanlon served as the Communications Director for Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) until 1998, when he went to work for a grassroots and public relations firm. In March 2000, Scanlon went to work with Jack Abramoff at the Preston Gates lobbying firm. In March 2001, Scanlon formed the Capital Campaign Services company, through which he worked with Abramoff to provide lobbying and grassroots PR services. 

Guilty of Conspiracy
"In a one-count criminal information filed by the government," Michael Scanlon, "partner of lobbyist Jack Abramoff, was charged Friday [November 18, 2005,] with conspiring to defraud Indian tribe clients of millions of dollars in a scheme that lavished golf trips, meals and campaign donations on a member of Congress," Pete Yost reported for the Associated Press. "Scanlon was charged with conspiring with another lobbyist, who was identified only as 'Lobbyist A.' It has been a matter of public record for more than a year that Scanlon and Abramoff had a fee-splitting arrangement and represented several Indian tribes."

On November 21, 2005, Scanlon pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and agreed to pay restitution totaling more than $19 million to the tribes. 

SourceWatch Resources

 * Jack Abramoff, lobbyist convicted of corruption crimes.
 * Ralph Reed, former director of the Christian Coalition, a failed candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia, and associate of Abramoff.
 * Ralph Reed: External Links: Articles & Commentary
 * Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal
 * Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio)
 * Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas)
 * K Street Project
 * Republican 'culture of corruption'

Resources

 * Scanlon's factual proffer in his guilty plea, November 11, 2005.
 * "Gimme Five'&mdash;Investigation of Tribal Lobbying Matters," Final Report Before the Committee on Indian Affairs, 109th Congress, 2d Session, June 22, 2006.

Articles

 * "Bush-Cheney campaign leader denies ties with Indian casinos," GamblingGates, September 2, 2004.
 * Susan Schmidt, "Insiders Worked Both Sides of Gaming Issue. E-mails Suggest Men Tried to Exploit Closure of Casino for Huge Fees From Tribe," Washington Post, September 26, 2004.
 * Editorial: "Tribal Trickery," Washington Post, September 28, 2004.
 * Josephine Hearn, "Scanlon ‘is hiding out’. Federal marshals cannot find former aide to Tom DeLay," The Hill, September 30, 2004.
 * Susan Schmidt, "Ex-Lobbyist Is Assailed at Hearing. Senators Say Pair Influenced Indian Tribes to Bilk Them," Washington Post, September 30, 2004.
 * Michael Janofsky, "Senate Opens Hearings on Lobbyists for Tribes," New York Times, September 30, 2004.
 * Thomas B. Edsall, "Abramoff Allies Keeping Distance. Lobbyist Under Scrutiny for Dealings With Indian Tribes," Washington Post, November 8, 2004.
 * Susan Schmidt, "Lobbyist, Firm Sued By Indians Over Fees. La. Tribe Alleges Negligence, Fraud", Washington Post, November 17, 2004.
 * Lou Dubose, "K Street Croupiers: How Two of Tom DeLay's Players Beat the House at the Grand Coushatta Casino", Texas Observer, November 19, 2004.
 * Rick Anderson, "The Preston Gates Mates. The venerable Seattle law firm launched key players in the Tom DeLay scandal," Seattle Weekly, February 23-March 1, 2005.
 * Susan Schmidt, "Casino Bid Prompted High-Stakes Lobbying. Probe Scrutinizes Efforts Against Tribe," Washington Post, March 13, 2005.
 * David Brooks, "Masters of Sleaze" (abstract), New York Times, March 22, 2005; full article posted here.
 * Susan Schmidt, "Abramoff Cited Aid Of Interior Official: Conflict-of-Interest Probe Is Underway," Washington Post, August 28, 2005.
 * Michael Scherer, "Abramoff-Scanlon School of Sleaze," Salon, November 3, 2005: "Wednesday's Senate hearings yielded more scandalous revelations about how the dynamic lobbying duo bilked American Indian tribes out of millions and used the money to win elections for their Republican clients."
 * Pete Yost, "Scanlon Faces Conspiracy Charge in Scandal," Associated Press, November 19, 2005.
 * Susan Schmidt and James V. Grimaldi, "Abramoff Associate Charged In Scheme: U.S. Alleges Plot To Bribe Lawmaker", Washington Post, November 19, 2005; Page A01
 * David Stout and Philip Shenon, "Former Aide to DeLay Pleads Guilty in Conspiracy Case," New York Times, November 21, 2005.
 * Brett J. Blackledge and Mary Orndorff, "Convicted lobbyist gave to 4 state PACs," The Birmingham News, April 13, 2006.