The BLT is reporting that A new report says disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was held “in high regard” by some senior White House officials, and some administration officials considered Abramoff’s views when discussing appointments to some positions at the Interior Department. It also says White House records released to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform show that Abramoff and other members of his lobbying team offered expensive meals and event tickets to White House staff.

The proposed report comes from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform led by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.). The committee will meet on Thursday to mark up the report, which is not yet final.

The report can be read here: http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20080609101725.pdf

The 35-page Oversight Committee report documents a two-year investigation by the committee into Abramoff’s influence within the White House. It uncovered six photographs of the corrupt lobbyist and members of his family shaking hands with President Bush; the committee also found evidence of more than 70 previously unknown contacts between Abramoff and his associates and administration officials.

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More than 70 previously unknown contacts? Unknown by who? Us, that’s who. More secrecy from this administration. This president has devoted his entire presidency to making the executive branch of the government the most powerful, secret, and unaccountable of them all. It’s hard to fathom in retrospect that Congress, the media and citizens have all sat idly by and watched Bush, Cheney,  Rove, Gonzales and the rest of the cronies take the office of the president to a (legally) fortified retreat.

Let’s hope the tide turns in 2009.

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