Culture of Corruption: Prosecutors have issued subpoena for docs relating to the U.S. Family Network

"National Journal Exclusive: New Subpoena Issued In Abramoff Case

National Journal's Peter Stone reports that prosecutors have issued a subpoena for documents relating to the U.S. Family Network, a sign that the influence-peddling probe into the activities of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff continues to expand."

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Investigators Issue New Subpoena In Abramoff Case

By Peter H. Stone, National Journal


Federal investigators have issued a subpoena for documents relating to the U.S. Family Network, a sign that the influence-peddling probe into the activities of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff continues to expand. The U.S. Family Network, a now-defunct grassroots advocacy group that had ties to Rep. Tom DeLay R-Texas, reportedly obtained most of its funding in the late 1990s from key Abramoff clients.

Sources familiar with the Justice Department-led probe say that one area of interest to investigators is $15,600 that the U.S. Family Network paid in 1999 to Liberty Consulting, a firm run by Lisa Rudy, the wife of Tony Rudy, who was a deputy chief of staff to DeLay before becoming a lobbying colleague of Abramoff's.

Tony Rudy was one of two former Hill staffers identified in Abramoff's January plea-bargain agreement with the Justice Department as having provided Abramoff with legislative help in exchange for gifts and other financial favors.

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The U.S. Family Network, a group that promoted itself as "pro-family" and advocating "moral fitness," was closely affiliated with DeLay and his aides, particularly Buckham. The latter left DeLay's office in 1998 to start the Alexander Strategy Group with help from Abramoff, who sent some clients to Buckham for grassroots lobbying and other work.