By Vanessa Blum
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
March 7, 2006
A lawyer for disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff threatened Monday to publicly disclose the names of Washington legislators and staff members under investigation in the sweeping federal corruption investigation that ensnared Abramoff.
Attorney Abbe Lowell told U.S. District Judge Paul Huck that the defense could be forced to reveal the sensitive information at Abramoff's sentencing hearing in Miami federal court this month unless it is postponed.
"We will name names. We will provide the public with evidence of what is going on out there," Lowell said by telephone at a court hearing in Miami. "It seems to me that is not in the interest of law enforcement."
Abramoff pleaded guilty Jan. 4 to charges that he and co-defendant Adam Kidan fraudulently obtained $60 million in loans to buy the SunCruz Casinos gambling cruise line in 2000 from Konstantino "Gus" Boulis. Kidan pleaded guilty late last year. Abramoff also pleaded guilty in January to charges of fraud and tax evasion related to his dealings with members of Congress.
As part of his plea agreement with the government, Abramoff must work with federal agents investigating possible corruption on Capitol Hill.
Lowell said he would divulge information supplied by Abramoff to demonstrate the extent of his client's cooperation.
Huck put off sentencing for Abramoff and Kidan from March 16 to March 29. But the judge refused to order a 90-day delay, as Abramoff and federal prosecutors requested.
After Monday's hearing, Miami attorney Neal Sonnett, who also represents Abramoff, said he doubted Lowell would reveal information that could disrupt ongoing investigations.
"It certainly is in everybody's interest to keep these issues confidential," Sonnett said.
Lawyers on both sides told Huck that if he sentences Abramoff and Kidan while they are assisting prosecutors, that could jeopardize pending federal investigations. Prosecutors also said they could not easily recommend a sentence for the men without first seeing how helpful they are.
Huck said prosecutors could rely on Abramoff's and Kidan's cooperation for years. But the judge said he routinely hands down sentences within 70 days of a guilty plea.
"I'm not persuaded we should treat Mr. Kidan and Mr. Abramoff any differently than anyone else," Huck said.
The judge said he probably would not require the two men to surrender immediately, but would allow them to remain free and available to assist investigators for now.
Huck could sentence Abramoff to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said they may seek a sentence reduction for Abramoff in the future if he is deemed to have provided "substantial" assistance.
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