The Seattle Times: Politics: Dems seek outsider for Abramoff probe

WASHINGTON — Two Democratic congressmen yesterday called for appointment of an outside special counsel to investigate whether lobbyist Jack Abramoff played a role in the demotion of a U.S. attorney in Guam who was investigating him.

Reps. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., and George Miller, D-Calif., cited what they called evidence of "political manipulation" in a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. They also questioned whether Abramoff might have had unauthorized access to classified documents relating to national-security concerns in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, where the once-powerful lobbyist had several clients. Abramoff, through his spokesman Andrew Blum, declined to comment. A Justice Department spokesman said the request would be reviewed.

Abramoff is the subject of investigations by a Senate committee and a federal grand jury on charges related to his multimillion-dollar lobbying efforts for Indian tribes with casino operations. He recently was indicted in Florida on unrelated fraud charges stemming from the purchase of a fleet of floating casinos. He has entered a not-guilty plea in that case.

Frederick Black, the longtime acting U.S. attorney for Guam and the Northern Marianas, was removed from office in late 2002 after starting an investigation of a deal between Abramoff and Guam court officials. The investigation subsequently was dropped.