Le Brouhaha d'Abramoff

So Jack Abramoff has made a plea agreement with prosecutors for his Congressional lobbying and financial malfeasance. Good to see this happen, even more exciting to see which Members of Congress are going to have to make some plea arrangements themselves! Call it my own special brand of schadenfreude or maybe just political street theater; I love to see people who think they are untouchable getting definitively manhandled. For dramatic effect, I also enjoyed Abramoff's clearly scripted NBA-player worthy apology: “Words will not ever be able to express my sorrow and my profound regret for all my actions and mistakes,” Abramoff said, addressing the judge. “I hope I can merit forgiveness from the Almighty and those I’ve wronged or caused to suffer.”

Up Now: MOC's tripping over themselves to donate all the money they received from Abramoff to "charity." Even Dennis Hastert finally got on board.

Up Next: Tom DeLay and Bob Ney will have a come to Jesus on their dealings with Abramoff, in the company of prosecutors. I hope they sell tickets!

Here are the list of charges:

Abramoff and then-partner Michael P.S. Scanlon conspired to defraud Indian tribes in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Texas of millions of dollars. Abramoff made about $20 million in hidden profits from the scheme. Scanlon pleaded guilty to related charges in November.

Abramoff provided money, trips, meals and entertainment to public officials and their relatives in return for favorable treatment of his clients. The government says one member of the House of Representatives, identified elsewhere as Bob Ney (R-Ohio), received a "lavish trip to Scotland to play golf on world-famous courses" and other benefits in exchange for the congressman's support on various issues. Ney has denied wrongdoing.

Abramoff arranged for one of Ney's former staff members to lobby the congressman in 2002 before the staffer's one-year ban on lobbying had expired.

Abramoff arranged for a $50,000 check to be sent through the mail from Texas to pay for the Scotland golf trip.

Abramoff filed a tax return for 2002 that concealed his illegal income.