Wilson defends against link to Abramoff scandal

Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) is trying to beat back reports linking her office to the lobbying scandal involving jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Her office issued a lengthy statement Tuesday evening in response to a report by www.tpmmuckraker.com that one of her staffers was ensnared in the corruption scandal because he helped an Abramoff client, the Sandia Pueblo, in a land deal.

{mosads}Greenberg Traurig represented the Sandia Pueblo in their negotiations over a land deal negotiated in Congress in 2003.

Monday’s Justice Department indictment of Kevin Ring, a former Greenberg Traurig lobbyist, included e-mails between a lobbyist, reportedly Ring, and an aide who worked in Wilson’s office at the time.

The e-mails show that Ring, another lobbyist at Greenberg Traurig, and a Wilson staffer were communicating about the land deal and that at least one of the Wilson staffers received a ticket to the Los Angeles Clippers basketball game from a lobbyist at the firm.

Ring has pleaded not guilty to a 10-count indictment accusing him of conspiring with Abramoff in his attempt to corrupt federal lawmakers and officials by giving them gifts, including tickets to sporting events.

Wilson, who lost a GOP Senate primary to Steve Pearce earlier this year and is leaving Congress in January, has long denied any impropriety in connection to the Abramoff scandal.

According to the indictment, a lobbyist at “Firm B” e-mailed a staffer who worked for a member representing the New Mexico tribe, which has been identified as the Sandia Pueblo. The e-mail was sent “on or about” Jan. 30, 2003. 

“Sorry I couldn’t hangout last night. I greatly appreciate your taking the time to han[g]out with the [New Mexico tribe],” the lobbyist wrote. “It meant a lot to [K]evin and I. BTW, you should be all set for the Clippers game.”

In her statement, Wilson said that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has not contacted her about the Abramoff case. She admitted to receiving a $1,000 campaign contribution from Ring in 2003 and that he hosted a fundraiser for her at Abramoff’s Signatures restaurant that same year.

Wilson also said that she tried to pay for the fundraiser when Ring did not submit the bill, but the restaurant was out of business. She said she then followed Federal Election Commission rules and contributed an equal amount to charity.

Wilson also said she worked with New Mexico Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D) and Pete Domenici (R) to settle the Sandia land claim and is “proud” of it.

“I worked on the issue since I was elected to the Congress in 1998 and the T'uf Bien Shur Preservation Act of 2003 was a major accomplishment for the Pueblo, neighboring cities, Sandia Tram, homeowners at the base of the mountain and nearby farmers and ranchers who all deserve credit for the agreement,” she wrote in the statement.

She also said she has been working with the tribe on a “wide range of important matters” for a decade and continues to do so.

“Greenberg Traurig was retained by Sandia Pueblo to represent the Pueblo concerning the land claim in 2002-2003,” she said in the statement. “We have worked with whomever the Pueblo has chosen as its representatives and with tribal leaders directly on matters of concern to the Pueblo.”

The e-mails also indicate that the Wilson staffer was trying to help Ring retain the Sandia Pueblo as a client by emphasizing the work that the office did for the tribe.

According to the indictment, in February a lobbyist at Firm B forwarded an e-mail from a Wilson staffer to Ring.

"How did Kevin' s meetings with the [New Mexico tribe] go?” the aide wrote. “If you guys lose that contract I would be disappointed."

In March, according to the indictment, a Greenberg Traurig lobbyist emailed Ring: "I'm going to kill [the New Mexico tribe] with [its U.S. Representative] if we don't get hired."

Wilson dismissed the alleged attempts by her staffer to help the lobbyists retain the Sandia Pueblo.

“Regarding the March 2003 e-mails between two rogue lobbyists concerning whether they would continue to be retained by the Pueblo, I am not sure whether to be amused or offended that they were operating under the delusion that I would help them retain their contract, or that losing their contract would hurt the Pueblo's longstanding relationship with me,” she wrote in her statement. “As my constituents, I represent the Pueblo regardless of who they hire to represent them. At no time did I take any action on behalf of Greenberg Traurig with Sandia Pueblo.”

In regards to the Clippers’ ticket, Wilson said all of her aides should know that they could be fired for accepting illegal gifts.

“We have very strict rules in our office on gifts — including tickets to events,” she wrote. “We train our staff about House ethics rules and we enforce those rules up to and including dismissal."