February 16, 2006
Page 1 of 2
WHEN the Malaysian Government sought to repair its tarnished image in the US by arranging a meeting between President George Bush and controversial Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed in 2002, it did what many other well-heeled interests in Washington did: it called on lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
It was a tall order. Dr Mahathir had been chastised by the Clinton administration for anti-Semitic statements and for jailing his political opponents. But it was important to the Malaysians, according to an Abramoff associate who attended meetings with Abramoff and the Malaysian ambassador.
According to the associate, Abramoff contacted Bush adviser Karl Rove at least four times to arrange a meeting.
Finally, this associate said, Mr Rove's office called to tell Abramoff that Dr Mahathir would be getting an official White House invitation.
In May 2002, the Malaysian leader met Mr Bush in the Oval Office and photographs were beamed around the world.
Abramoff was paid $US1.2 million ($A1.6 million) from the Malaysian Government for his services in 2001 and 2002, according to an Abramoff associate. Documents obtained by Senate investigators appear to confirm at least $US900,000 of that amount.
Abramoff has pleaded guilty to improperly influencing members of Congress and their aides. He often routed lobbying fees through non-profit organisations to evade taxes or hide the sources of funds.
It's not clear how central Abramoff was in arranging the Oval Office session for Kuala Lumpur. The White House says the meeting was arranged through normal channels.
But it was clear, the former associate said, that Abramoff took credit for it. His reputation for close relationships with the White House enabled him to charge stratospheric fees.
The Malaysian payments were made to the American International Centre, a bogus "international think tank" that an Abramoff partner, Michael Scanlon, set up at a Delaware beach house.
By routing the money in that way, Abramoff avoided having to register with the Justice Department as an agent of a foreign government.
After Dr Mahathir's White House meeting, a former associate said, Abramoff was invited to a dinner honouring the Prime Minister at the Malaysian embassy.
At least one other Washington lobbying firm — Alexander Strategies, run by an Abramoff friend — was also compensated during this period for helping boost Malaysia's reputation in Washington.
The witness was the only person to observe Abramoff's direct contacts with Mr Rove and even then he only heard Abramoff's end of the conversation. He recalled Abramoff picking up his ringing mobile phone, flashing the caller ID and saying: "It's Karl."
