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November 20, 2005
The Most Dangerous Man In Washington
In a Fall Washington Republicans would like to forget, things may have just gotten a lot worse. On Friday, Michael Scanlon, a former staffer for Sugar Land Congressman Tom DeLay, and business partner to fallen super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, joined those two men in being charged with a felony.
Today's Washington Post reveals that Mr. Scanlon is likely to become the prosecution's star witness against Mr. Abramoff and a host of Washington players, including Members of Congress, lobbyists, Hill staffers and executive branch officials.
Quite simply, this guy was the go-between for Abramoff and his dealings with elected officials, their staff members, and administration officials. He knows way too much, and that makes him very dangerous indeed.
Scanlon, a young man in his 30s, almost instantly got rich after leaving Mr. DeLay's office to go to work with Abramoff in 2000. The two ran a scheme that bilked Indian tribes for $82 million for "help" with their casino gaming interests, which proved to be their undoing. Scanlon has a young family, and clearly decided cooperation with the Justice Department was more palatable than federal prison time.
The question is, just how much does he know and who will it implicate? Based on the number of deals going on, and the constant wining and dining of Members of Congress, etc., the list could be very long indeed.
One person very clearly in the crosshairs is his former boss, Mr. DeLay. Many people may hope for Travis County DA Ronnie Earle to hit paydirt with his case against the former Majority Leader, but early signs don't suggest that's likely.
Mr. DeLay's real danger has always been, and is now more than ever, the Abramoff business in Washington. Scanlon is the key to that. If Mr. DeLay is indicted by the Justice Department, or seriously investigated again by the House Ethics Committee, his political reign of power is likely finished.
Prolonged investigations on two or three fronts would make it impossible for DeLay to be reinstated as Majority Leader anytime soon. And with every day that passes where he grows more politically radioactive, it gives ambitious GOP caucus members more cover to permanently take him out of House leadership.
Even if he survives his legal troubles and is reelected at the ballot box, would Tom DeLay really go back to being a back-bencher? We doubt it.
So watch developments with Mr. Scanlon very carefully. He may well be the beginning of the end politically for Congressman DeLay.
Posted by houtopia at November 20, 2005 11:48 AM