Louisiana tribe gave to Florida legislators - OrlandoSentinel.com: State News

Tamara Lytle Washington Bureau Chief

December 7, 2005

WASHINGTON -- A Louisiana Indian tribe embroiled in a bitter fight to stop a competing casino doled out hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to lawmakers throughout the country -- including a few in Florida.

PoliticalMoneyLine, which tracks campaign finance, on Tuesday released a list put together by the Coushatta tribe of its planned donations to about 60 campaign committees for lawmakers and other political groups.

The recipients -- who received more than $300,000 from one day's worth of checks alone -- were chosen by tribal lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a tribal council member told The Kansas City Star.

Investigators are now trying to find out whether Abramoff overcharged his tribal clients. He also has been indicted on fraud charges related to the purchase of SunCruz Casinos in South Florida.

Federal Elections Commission records show Rep. Tom Feeney, R-Oviedo, and Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key, each received $1,000 donations from the tribe in 2002. The Coushatta tribal list also shows Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando, was due to get a $1,000 donation.

But federal records show no such donation to Keller was accepted. His staff said Tuesday that he likely turned down the money because he does not accept contributions from gambling interests.

At the time, the Coushattas were trying to block a competing casino by the Jena band of Choctaw Indians. Melanie Sloan of Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington said they spent big money and ultimately blocked the casino by winning their arguments with the Department of the Interior.

"The question is, 'What did they get for the money?' " Sloan said. Several lawmakers, including leaders of both parties, wrote letters to the Department of the Interior supporting the Coushattas after receiving campaign donations from them. "[The incident] says the system is for sale to the highest bidder."

Aides to Feeney and Harris said their bosses did nothing to help the Coushattas.

"She was just not influenced by the contribution," said Kara Borie, spokeswoman for Harris, who is running for the U.S. Senate.

Earlier this year, Feeney came under criticism for accompanying Abramoff on a Scotland golfing trip. Congressional rules forbid House members from accepting trips from lobbyists, and Feeney said he thought an eligible nonprofit group had paid for it.

"To our knowledge, we have never done anything on behalf of Mr. Abramoff, any of his Indian-related clients or any of his other clients," Feeney spokesman Myal Greene said.

Keller refuses to accept donations from gambling interests and had opposed a casino for the Seminole tribe in Central Florida.

"He just doesn't support the expansion of gambling," said his chief of staff, Bryan Malenius.

Another set of contributions that came under fire Tuesday includes money linked to former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.

Keller, Harris, and Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Crystal River, each received $1,000 donations from Cunningham, who recently resigned after pleading guilty to accepting bribes from defense contractors.

Feeney received $5,000 from Cunningham. Staff members for Brown-Waite, Feeney and Keller said the money was raised legally at the time, and they do not plan to return it.

Harris also received numerous donations from others involved in the Cunningham scandal, including those associated with defense contractor MZM.

Borie said Harris will be donating the $51,000 in contributions to charity soon.

"Upon learning of the appalling criminal activity connected with Cunningham and MZM, Harris is voluntarily donating the money to charity. Harris finds Mr. Cunningham's actions abhorrent and a violation of the trust of those who honored him with elected office."