Originally published February 26 2006
White House tries to play down the connection between Bush and Abramoff
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
CBS News explores the connection between President Bush and Jack Abramoff, who were photographed together on several occasions.
Both Washingtonian and Time magazines have reported the existence of about a half-dozen photos showing the two together.
Time reported on its Web site Sunday that its staff members have seen at least six photos featuring Bush and Abramoff, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from his lobbying practices and has pledged to cooperate with investigators.
The White House has acknowledged that Abramoff attended some events at the Executive Mansion, and spokeswoman Dana Perino said Sunday it's not surprising that the two would have met.
"The president has taken tens upon thousands of pictures at such events," Perino said.
Abramoff met a few times with White House staff and attended Hanukkah receptions in 2001 and 2002, the White House has said, but officials there have refused to disclose how many times he's been into the complex or what business he had there.
The White House also has not released any photos featuring the president and Abramoff, who was declared a Bush "pioneer" for raising at least $100,000 for the Bush-Cheney '04 re-election campaign.
Contributions that came directly from Abramoff, his wife and one of the American Indian tribes he represented --- a total of $6,000 --- were donated to the American Heart Association by the Bush-Cheney campaign just days after Abramoff entered his guilty pleas.
CBS News correspondent Joie Chen reports Time's sources did not allow the magazine to print any of the sources, so the hunt for the photos is on.
"I think the president would be much better off if her gave a full accounting of his relations with Abramoff and let it get behind them," analyst Craig Crawford told Chen.
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