WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- E-mail communications reportedly show lobbyist Jack Abramoff raising money for U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay through a private charity.
The association of DeLay, R-Texas, and Abramoff is being investigated by the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee, which released e-mail from Abramoff's files.
The documents show Abramhoff asking about a request that "Tom wants us to raise some bucks from Capital Athletic Foundation," The New York Times said, quoting e-mail from 2002. Capital Athletic Foundation, a private charity operated by Abramhoff, was allegedly used to fund overseas trips for members of Congress.
The Senate committee is investigating allegations Abramoff and a former DeLay press secretary defrauded Abramhoff's Indian tribe clients by using their funds for activities that had little to do with the clients' interests.
The Times said DeLay made no comment about the Abramoff e-mail messages.
In Texas, where an indictment over campaign finances forced DeLay to resign as House majority leader, retired Judge Pat Priest was named to hear the trial. DeLay's attorneys had claimed some judges would be biased against DeLay for political reasons. Priest is a Democrat from San Antonio. It was not clear if DeLay would fight that judicial assignment.
