Culture of Corruption: Indicted Jack Abramoff Set Up A Meeting With Bush For 5 Clients In 2001

On May 9, 2001, five of lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s clients met with the President at the White House. Grover Norquist, the President of Americans for Tax Reform, had invited them to a White House reception on behalf his organization.

Telling his clients they had to be event “sponsors” to attend, Mr. Abramoff convinced at least two clients to write $25,000 checks to Americans For Tax Reform (ATR). Four other of Abramoff’s tribal clients also attended.

According to a Texas Observer article, Mr. Abramoff’s client, Chairman of the Coushatta Tribe Lovelin Poncho came to the event after his tribe paid ATR $25,000.

Though they did not attend the event, the Choctaw Indians donated $25,000 to be a "sponsor" of the meeting, according to a June 8, 2005 Associated Press report. The same article reports another Abramoff client, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, also attended.

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