Former Doolittle aide pleads not guilty in Abramoff inquiry

Let's see if this McClatchy piece gets into the ADN tomorrow. [Update, Sept 9: There's a two paragraph excerpt, less than I have below, in News Digest in Section B today] Or maybe it's only in the Sacramento Bee because Roseville is just outside Sacramento.

By Marisa Taylor and Rob Hotakainen - McClatchy Newspapers

Last Updated 6:28 pm PDT Monday, September 8, 2008

WASHINGTON -- A former top aide to Republican Rep. John Doolittle pleaded not guilty Monday to public corruption and obstruction of justice charges in an indictment that provides new details about links between the California congressman, his wife Julie and convicted superlobbyist Jack Abramoff.

The Roseville congressman and his employees were showered with free lunches and tickets to concerts and sporting events, according to the indictment. In exchange, Doolittle provided legislative favors to Abramoff's clients, including work on a $16 million appropriation and a bill to provide statehood to Puerto Rico, the indictment said.

In addition, Abramoff provided Doolittle's wife with a job in which she received $96,000 working for a non-profit group, according to the indictment. It said Abramoff sent an e-mail to a consultant of the company, saying: "I want her to help, but not be overburdened with work." For the whole article.

Don Young's Abramoff related former aide has pleaded guilty and presumably is talking to prosecutors about his former boss. From an April 20, 2008 ADN story by Rich Mauer:

Last year, Mark Zachares, whom Young hired as a top aide on the House Transportation Committee, pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from Abramoff and agreed to help investigators. Before going to work for Young, Zachares, originally from Alaska, had been a labor and immigration official for the Mariana government. Prosecutors said Abramoff placed Zachares on Young's committee, and Zachares used his insider spot to help Abramoff's clients. Since Zachares' plea 12 months ago, Young has refused to explain what he knows about how Zachares got his job.

Thanks Chris.