[A "rainmaker" is
an employee that brings a disproportionate amount of money into
a firm.]
If it wasn’t for bad news,
there would be no news about Channel One.
Channel One has always paid top dollar to hire expensive
lobbyist and influence peddlers
of all types to keep their product
in American classrooms. They have never relied on educators to defend
the TV show. They would have been out of business years ago if they
relied on the quality of their product. Instead they relied on brute
lobbying force. It has worked well for them. But now, there is bad
news Their most expensive lobbyist is Jack Abramoff of Greenberg Traurig.
Abramoff is in big trouble.
Obligation nicknamed him "Casino Jack" a
few years ago and we hope the name stuck. If it didn’t; it will.
This week, Casino Jack was asked to leave his firm. You
can read about it below. Although there is no indication that Casino
Jack and Channel One have done anything wrong, the investigation into
Abramoff may turn up some interesting information on how a person of
Abramoff’s abilities can get Indian tribes and companies like Channel
One Network to give him so much money over a long period of time. What
were they buying? What was Casino Jack selling?
We wrote a letter about
Casino Jack in 2001.
What is Channel One News going to do without their high-paid
lobbyist?
Channel One is probably in the market for a new Washington
lobbyist.
Top Rainmaker Forced Out
As Controversy Brews Over Fees New York Lawyer
March 4, 2004
By Matthew Haggman and Dan Christensen
Miami Daily Business Review
The Greenberg Traurig law firm has forced out its biggest Washington
rainmaker amid controversy over tens of millions of dollars in fees charged
to four Indian tribes over the past several years.
Jack Abramoff, a Republican lobbyist and fund-raiser with close ties
to powerful House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, resigned on Tuesday
at the request of the firm. He was the head of Greenberg’s Washington
lobbying office.
"Greenberg Traurig has accepted Jack Abramoff’s resignation from the firm,
effective today," the firm said in a statement. "Last Friday, Feb.
27, Mr. Abramoff disclosed to the firm for the first time personal transactions
and related conduct which are unacceptable to the firm."
Cesar Alvarez, president and chief executive of the Miami-based firm,
said the firm has hired Henry F. Schuelke III, a partner at Janis Schuelke & Wechsler
in Washington, to conduct an internal investigation. Alvarez declined
to comment directly on the Abramoff matter until the firm’s investigation
is completed.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Rep. Frank R. Wolfe, R-Va., have called
for a congressional investigation of the fees.
Hired by Greenberg Traurig in December 2000 as senior director of government
affairs, Abramoff, an attorney, played a big role in making the firm
a major lobbying shop in Washington. The firm hired Abramoff and 10 of
his fellow lobbyists from Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds to
jump-start its Washington lobbying practice.
