THE LOBBYIST at the centre of a massive US bribery investigation copped a guilty plea yesterday after agreeing to cough up evidence that could implicate 20 or more mostly Republican federal politicians.

The plea clears the way for an explosive corruption scandal involving the party of President George W. Bush.
 
‘Black’ Jack Abramoff, a wealthy lobbyist with extensive financial ties to many politicians - including former Republican house leader Tom DeLay - pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion.

It is believed Abramoff, a Georgetown University law graduate, used all his lobbying skills to cut a deal whereby he will name members of Congress who took part in the massive cash-for-favors racket he ran on Capitol Hill.

Abramoff admitted in court to corrupting US public officials.  Like a high-class curb crawler, he also admitted he contributed money to political campaigns, holidays and other perks, "in exchange for certain official acts".

"I hope I can merit forgiveness from the Almighty and those I've wronged or caused to suffer," Abramoff told the US District Court in Washington DC.
 
In 2005, Abramoff had pleaded guilty to two parallel charges - one involving the fraudulent purchase of a flotilla of Florida casino boats in 2000, and the other in connection with the current corruption charges.
 
According to the current charges laid by the US Justice Department, Abramoff and Michael Scanlon, a business associate who pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to bribe politicians, overcharged Native American communities by millions of dollars and used the money to shower cash, golf trips, sports tickets and other favors on politicians.

The Native American communities had hired Abramoff to lobby Congress to pass legislation favorable to their gambling interests.

The Abramoff investigation, which has been brewing for two years, is seen as a ticking time bomb for the Republican party.  According to one source, Abramoff holds thousands of emails detailing what politicians did in exchange for money he sent to their campaign accounts.
 
Although the Republicans have been rocked by a series of sleaze scandals of late - most notably the indictment of US Vice-President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby - the possible exposure of endemic corruption through the Abramoff trial has White House powerbrokers trembling at the knees.
 
More than 30 members of Congress were revealed to have taken legislative action favorable to Abramoff's Native American clients after receiving money from the lobbyist or direct from the communities.