Green's Washington Values: It's Okay to Take Freebies from Indicted D.C. Lobbyist

After Taking Tickets from the Indicted Jack Abramoff’s Firm, Green’s Campaign Manager Says That’s Just How Washington Works

MADISON – After trying to cover up the fact that he took ticket freebies from indicted Washington, D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s firm, Mark Green’s campaign manager Mark Graul is now excusing the behavior by saying that’s just the way business is done in Washington.

Records show that Graul, as Green’s Washington Chief of Staff, repeatedly took ticket freebies for Abramoff’s skybox in D.C. for NBA games, concerts, and a WWF event. But Graul initially tried to deny it, saying he never asked for tickets from Abramoff and doesn’t know the scandal-plagued lobbyist.

Now Graul’s story is changing once again. His new excuse: taking freebies from indicted lobbyists is just business-as-usual in Washington.

“I believe it’s illegal in Madison” to take freebies, Graul told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “It’s legal in Washington.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/21/2005]

“Once again, Mark Green is showing the people of Wisconsin that he supports the culture of corruption that has entangled Republicans in Washington,” said Joe Wineke, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Mark Green seems to think it’s okay for his staffers in Washington to take freebies from an indicted Washington lobbyist. That may be how business is done in Washington, but it’s not how things are done in Wisconsin.”

After first saying he never took any tickets from Abramoff, Graul then said he did attend a Washington Wizards-Milwaukee Bucks game in Washington, but didn’t remember how he got the tickets. But an email from Graul buddy and Abramoff staffer Jennifer Calvert to Abramoff’s assistant says: “May I get four tickets to this game for Mark Graul, COS for Rep. Green? If that works, I’d like to get two for myself as well, to host Mark. Thanks.” [TalkingPointsMemo.Com, 10/10/2005]

Now Graul says he attended three Wizards-Bucks games in D.C., and that he was the contact person to receive freebies. “From time to time, people would call and offer tickets,” Graul told the Journal Sentinel. “There were a handful of times we said yes.” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/21/2005]

And, while Graul continues to deny knowing Abramoff, it seems Abramoff knew him. After a Graul request for tickets to the NBA All Star Game and Dunk Contest, Abramoff himself replied that Graul would be put on the list for tickets while he figured out what he was going to do with the suite that night.

“The number of favors given to Green’s congressional office raises the question of why Mark Green and his staff were such favorites of Jack Abramoff,” Wineke said. “What else did Mark Green get from Abramoff, and what did he do to win such favor?”

Considering the large number of tickets Graul took from Abramoff’s firm, it appears Graul may have even violated Washington’s limit on freebies from lobbyists, Wineke said.

Graul’s deception is similar to Green’s ever changing story about why he won’t get rid of the more than $30,000 he’s taken from the indicted Tom DeLay, a close Abramoff associate. Green now admits it would be legal to return the money, but says he needs the dirty DeLay money for his run for Governor.

http://www.wisdems.org/ht/display/ReleaseDetails/i/689253