Jack Abramoff Describes Relationship With President Bush

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Wed, 8 Feb 2006 19:58:57 -0800 (PST)

Jack Abramoff Describes Relationship With President Bush

 

 

 

Jack Abramoff Describes Relationship With President

Bush

 

 

EXCLUSIVE EMAILS: Jack Abramoff Describes Relationship

With President Bush

ThinkProgress has obtained emails written by Jack

Abramoff in which the fallen lobbyist personally

describes his relationship with President Bush. They

depict a relationship far more extensive than has been

previously reported.

 

The emails written by Abramoff were addressed to Kim

Eisler, the national editor of Washingtonian magazine.

The Washingtonian recently reported on the existence

of several photographs showing Abramoff and Bush

together. Eisler is also the author of Revenge of the

Pequots, a book about tribal politics for which

Abramoff was interviewed.

 

In the emails, Abramoff describes meeting Bush " in

almost a dozen settings, " and details how he was

personally invited to President Bush's private ranch

in Crawford, Texas, for a gathering of Bush

fundraisers in 2003. Abramoff did not attend, citing a

religious observance.

 

Abramoff emailed Eisler about his invitation to

Crawford and his decision not to attend:

 

NO, IT WAS THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD TO TRAVEL ON SATURDAY

(SHABBOS). YES, I WAS INVITED, DURING THE 2004

CAMPAIGN. IT WAS SATURDAY AUGUST 9, 2003 AT THE RANCH

IN CRAWFORD.

 

The White House has continually downplayed the

relationship between Abramoff and President Bush. At a

January 26 press conference, President Bush said " You

know, I, frankly, don't even remember having my

picture taken with the guy. I don't know him. "

 

But according to Eisler, Abramoff told him that the

two have met almost a dozen times, shared jokes, and

spoke about details of Abramoff's family:

 

HE HAS ONE OF THE BEST MEMORIES OF ANY POLITICIAN I

HAVE EVER MET. IT WAS ONE IF [sic] HIS TRADEMARKS,

THOUGH OF COURSE HE CAN'T RECALL THAT HE HAS A GREAT

MEMORY! THE GUY SAW ME IN ALMOST A DOZEN SETTINGS, AND

JOKED WITH ME ABOUT A BUNCH OF THINGS, INCLUDING

DETAILS OF MY KIDS. PERHAPS HE HAS FORGOTTEN

EVERYTHING. WHO KNOWS.

 

Check back with ThinkProgress for more details about

Abramoff's relationship with Bush and other

high-profile figures.

 

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/08/exclusive-abramoff-emails/