Originally published February 13 2006
Top lobbying operation shuts down due to DeLay connections
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
One of Washington's top lobbying operations, the Alexander Strategy Group has been fatally damaged by publicity concerning its connections to Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff.
One of Washington's top lobbying operations will shut down at the end of the month because of its ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former House majority leader Tom DeLay.
Alexander Strategy Group, which had thrived since its founding in 1998 thanks largely to its close connections to DeLay (R-Tex.), will cease to operate except for a relatively small business-development division, Edwin A. Buckham, the former top DeLay aide who owns the company, said yesterday.
Buckham said in a telephone interview that the company was fatally damaged by publicity about the ongoing federal investigation into the affairs of Abramoff, who pleaded guilty last week to fraud and conspiracy charges.
DeLay was indicted in Texas last year on money laundering and other charges.
"Reports in the press have made it difficult to continue as a lobbying/political entity," Buckham said.
Rudy, a former DeLay aide, worked for Abramoff before joining ASG.
According to the plea document, a political consulting firm run by Rudy's wife allegedly received $50,000 in exchange for official actions Rudy took while working for DeLay.
A senior ASG employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of ongoing discussions at the firm, said Rudy will be leaving the company.
The senior ASG employee estimated that 40 to 50 percent of the firm's clients probably would have abandoned the firm soon because of adverse publicity about the continuing investigations involving Rudy and Buckham.
Financial disclosure forms show that ASG employed Christine DeLay from 1998 to 2002.
A year ago, Julie Doolittle and her firm received a subpoena from the grand jury investigating Abramoff, according to her lawyer.
Former lobbying associates have said that Abramoff shared some high-paying clients with ASG, including Malaysian interests, the Mississippi Choctaw Indian tribe and online gambling firms.
In court papers filed with Abramoff's plea, prosecutors said that Abramoff sought Rudy's help in killing a bill to prohibit gambling on the Internet.
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