Jack Abramoff controversies

The Jack Abramoff controversies were a series of investigations into Jack Abramoff, a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist, which culminated in several plea agreements by those involved, including U.S. Representative Bob Ney (R-OH). Abramoff pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, including tax fraud and bribing public officials.

Abramoff's activities also became an issue that many Democratic candidates raised in the November 2006 U.S. House and U.S. Senate elections, as challengers painted the incumbent Republican Congress as tarnished and corrupted by Abramoff and his powerful allies. On March 29, 2006, Abramoff was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of more than $21 million.

As a result of Abramoff's criminal behavior, prominent politicians with close ties to Abramoff and hundreds of Congressional politicians who received contributions from his clients as part of the monetary influence of Jack Abramoff came under media scrutiny, and some donated their contributions to charity.

In 2006, responding to the Abramoff controversies, lobbying reform proposals were presented in Congress by both parties. In September 2006, both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House passed legislation and rules changes related to federal earmarks and other substantive lobbying reforms.