Sen. Reid calls US Congress 'most corrupt in history'
By Thomas Ferraro, Reuters
Sun Dec 18, 1:33 PM ET
U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid called the Republican-led
Congress "the most corrupt in history" on Sunday, and distanced
himself
from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, at the center of an escalating probe.
The Justice Department is investigating whether Jack Abramoff directed
illegal payoffs to lawmakers, including Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas,
who was
forced to step down as House Republican leader in September after
indicted in his home state of Texas on unrelated charges.
"Don't lump me in with Jack Abramoff. This is a Republican scandal,"
Reid told Fox News Sunday, saying he never received any money from
Abramoff.
Reid, like many members of Congress, Democrats and Republicans, has
received campaign contributions from Abramoff clients. Some lawmakers
have returned those donations, but Reid gave no indication he would do
so.
The Securities and Exchange Commission has been examining stock
sales by
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, and last
month Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a California Republican, resigned from
the House after pleading guilty of taking more than $2.4 million in
bribes involving defense contracts.
Democrats have accused Republicans of "a culture of corruption," and
plan to make it an issue in next year's congressional elections.
"America can do better than what we've done," said Reid. "The most
corrupt Congress in the history of the country. We have such
significant
problems with what's going on in this country."
Most of the federal investigative focus is now on Abramoff, whose
lobbying activities, particularly on behalf of Indian tribal clients,
are also being examined by Congress.
Appearing on Fox TV, Reid said, "Abramoff gave me no money. His firm
gave me no money. He may have worked (at) a firm where people have
given
me money."
A Reid aide later explained that the senator received money from a
political action committee affiliated with a firm where Abramoff had
worked, but Abramoff did not contribute to it.
"I feel totally at ease that I haven't done anything that is even
close
to being wrong," Reid said.
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