Abramoff's Sentencing Date: Early September

In a joint motion filed today, prosecutors and lawyers for Jack Abramoff asked a federal judge to set a sentencing date for the convicted lobbyist in early September. Click here for a copy of the motion.

The parties told U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle that they were “in a position to inform the court about the full scope of his misconduct and cooperation, and that, consistent with the commitments in the plea agreement with Mr. Abramoff, sentencing in the near future in this case is appropriate.”

Abramoff pleaded guilty in January 2006 to mail fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion in a wide-ranging influence-peddling investigation that has snared more than a dozen congressional aides, lobbyists and pubic officials. He is serving prison time for unrelated charges originating in Florida.

Prosecutors have delayed Abramoff’s sentencing in the District several times, citing his cooperation in the ongoing probe. The filing today was a formal request that Huvelle initiate Abramoff’s pre-sentence investigation.

Several other officials convicted in the influence-peddling scheme are still awaiting sentencing dates, including Michael Scanlon, a former communications director for Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and lobbyist who pleaded guilty to corruption charges in 2005. Last week, prosecutors notified Huvelle that they anticipated Scanlon’s cooperation "for the foreseeable future" and asked the judge to continue his sentencing for the 10th time.

The Abramoff motion comes less than a week after a top aide to former Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.) admitted to accepting gifts from Abramoff in return for helping lobbyists and their clients. The aide, John Albaugh, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the House and could face up to 24 months in prison.

Today, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a report highlighting Abramoff's ties to the White House. While the the report cites no evidence that Abramoff lobbied the President, it states that "the documents provided to the Committee by the White House document over 70 new contacts between Mr. Abramoff and his associates and White House officials." Click here for the full report.