Chicago Tribune | Abramoff allegedly was paid $1.2 million

Items compiled from Tribune news services
Published February 21, 2006


WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Monday that lobbyist Jack Abramoff was paid $1.2 million to organize his 2002 meeting with President Bush, but he denied the money came from the Malaysian government.

Mahathir said in Kuala Lumpur that he was aware a payment was made to Abramoff, but he didn't know who made it.

Abramoff pleaded guilty last month to charges that he and a former partner concocted a fake wire transfer to make it appear they were putting a sizable stake of their own money into a 2000 purchase of casinos.