Five nonprofits tied to Abramoff

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate investigators say five conservative nonprofit organizations "appear to have perpetrated a fraud" by working with lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The investigator's report says e-mail between the organizations, including one run by conservative government reformer Grover Norquist, and the former lobbyist show that Abramoff directed funds to the groups from his clients, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The groups then allegedly produced news releases and op-ed columns favoring the positions of the clients.

The report, written by the Democratic staff of the Senate Finance Committee and authorized by the Chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said the groups "were generally available to carry out Mr. Abramoff's requests for help with his clients in exchange for cash payments."

The Post also reported that prosecution and defense lawyers have filed papers requesting that Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to fraud, be ordered to serve his sentence at a federal facility in Cumberland, Md., so he can continue to assist with the investigation. One person has been convicted and seven, including Rep. Robert Ney, R-Ohio have pleaded guilty, in the lobby influence investigation.