WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A powerful Washington lobbyist spent about $1 million annually provided by his tribal clients to lease four sports skyboxes in and near the nation's capital.
Jack Abramoff resigned from Greenberg Traurig after disclosures by the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs committee six tribes paid him $82 million over a three-year period, the Washington Post reported Sunday.
Federal investigators are examining Abramoff's records of campaign contributions and trips, meals and gifts including the use of two skyboxes at Washington's FedEx Field and one each at MCI Center and Camden Yards in Baltimore.
Abramoff used the skyboxes to gain access to members of Congress and their staffs by inviting them to the games that he also had catered. Additionally, more than 70 fundraising events were held for members of Congress in the skyboxes.
Congress set the value of skybox tickets at $49 -- under the $50 limit -- so the donation of a box for 20 people for a fundraising event would be valued at $1,000.
However, politicians could sell skybox tickets for $500 to $1,000 each to supporters, according to Rob Jennings, president of American Event Consulting Inc., an organization that raises funds for Republicans.
