Congressman John Doolittle

A judge has sentenced a former Justice Department attorney caught in the influence peddling scandal involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff to a month at a halfway house and three years of probation. U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle said Robert Coughlin did not deserve a jail sentence. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Coughlin had faced as much as six months behind bars. Coughlin tearfully admitted he "stupidly" provided assistance to Abramoff's lobbying team and its clients while accepting free meals and drinks and tickets to sporting events and concerts from Abramoff lobbying partner Kevin Ring. Coughlin previously pleaded guilty to engaging in a conflict of ... Read Full Story

The second trial in the long-running influence peddling scandal surrounding imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff went to the jury Monday with the defense arguing that a former member of Abramoff's team is being prosecuted for guilt by association. Unlike other people implicated in the probe, former lobbyist Kevin Ring is fighting the criminal charges the Justice Department brought against him rather than pleading guilty in an effort to be granted leniency by a judge. U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle is presiding over the case. During a trial that began 3 1/2 weeks ago, Ring's lawyers maintained Ring was an excellent lobbyist who stayed completely ... Read Full Story

A federal judge Monday set June 21 for the retrial of a former lobbyist who worked for influence peddler Jack Abramoff. U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle set the date after Thursday's mistrial for Kevin Ring. The jury had deadlocked over eight counts. The government alleged that Ring lavished thousands of dollars worth of tickets and meals on employees of then-Republican Reps. John Doolittle of California and Ernest Istook of Oklahoma, and on Justice Department officials in return for congressional appropriations and other assistance for Abramoff's clients. The mistrial was the biggest setback in the government's prosecution of cases related to Abramoff. The jury ... Read Full Story

Stung by a jury that deadlocked on charges against a former lobbyist, federal prosecutors in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal are returning to court in an attempt to make sure one of their biggest catches is sent to prison. David Safavian, the former top procurement official in the George W. Bush administration, says his life is in ruins because of his convictions for lying to investigators about his relationship with Abramoff. Now Safavian wants to be spared a prison term. He was scheduled to appear Friday before U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman for sentencing. Federal prosecutors are seeking 15 months to 21 months behind ... Read Full Story

Jurors have reached a verdict on one criminal charge and appear deadlocked on seven others in the trial of a lobbyist caught up in the Jack Abramoff influence peddling scandal. The jury for Kevin Ring decided Tuesday to keep secret its verdict on the one count for now after being directed by U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle to resume deliberations Wednesday. The charge involves a payment of $5,000 to a credit union account controlled by the wife of former California Republican Rep. John Doolittle. Ring is accused of providing thousands of dollars worth of drinks, meals and tickets to sporting events and concerts ... Read Full Story