Delay, Safavian, and Abramoff: What's a little Mob Murder Between Buddies?

Oooh. I hadn't quite put this all together. It's looking a lot bigger than laundering campaign contributions (Delay), or selling a bit of stock on inside info (Frist, which sent Martha Stewart up the river,) or Rove and Scooter (felony disclosure of a CIA agent).

Abramoff was the GOP's most powerful lobbyist and loving candyman. Connections everywhere in Congress and industry (say, Tyco). How does federal conspircacy for murder strike you, all to buy out a casino interest (are you listening Ralph Reed?) ?

Basically:

Paul Krugman NYT (9/29/05): (FAIR USE! FAIR USE! You 49.95 Bastards!)

David Safavian is a former associate of Jack Abramoff, the recently indicted lobbyist. Mr. Safavian oversaw U.S. government procurement policy at the White House Office of Management and Budget until his recent arrest...Mr. Safavian is charged with misrepresenting his connections with lobbyists -- specifically, Mr. Abramoff -- while working at the General Services Administration. A key event was a lavish golfing trip to Scotland in 2002, mostly paid for by a charity Mr. Abramoff controlled. Among those who went on the trip was Representative Bob Ney of Ohio.

Tyco paid $2 million, most going to firms controlled by Mr. Abramoff, as part of its successful effort to preserve tax advantages it got from shifting its legal home to Bermuda. Timothy Flanigan, a general counsel at Tyco, has been nominated for the second-ranking Justice Department post.

Mr. Abramoff was indicted last month on charges of fraud relating to his purchase of SunCruz, a casino boat operation. Mr. Ney inserted comments in the Congressional Record attacking SunCruz's original owner, Konstantinos ''Gus'' Boulis, placing pressure on him to sell to Mr. Abramoff and his partner, Adam Kidan, and praised Mr. Kidan's character.

Last week three men were arrested in connection with the gangland-style murder of Mr. Boulis. SunCruz, after it was controlled by Mr. Kidan and Mr. Abramoff, paid a company controlled by one of the men arrested, Anthony ''Big Tony'' Moscatiello, and his daughter $145,000 for catering and other work. In court documents, questions are raised about whether food and drink were ever provided. SunCruz paid $95,000 to a company in which one of the other men arrested, Anthony ''Little Tony'' Ferrari, is a principal.

Tom DeLay, who stepped down as House majority leader after his indictment, once called Mr. Abramoff ''one of my closest and dearest friends.'' Mr. Abramoff funneled funds from clients to conservative institutions and causes. The Washington Post reported that associates of Mr. DeLay claim that he severed the relationship after Mr. Boulis's murder.

And today:

MIAMI -- Detectives say that there are new developments in the investigation into the mob-style murder of well-known South Florida businessman Gus Boulis.Investigators said Friday that reputed Gambino family crime associate Anthony Moscatiello is ratting on the other two men arrested, but he is not implicating himself.Moscatiello received thousands of dollars in Sun Cruz checks, money that investigators said they believe was the payoff for the murder of Boulis.Moscatiello, along with Anthony Ferrari and James Fiorillo, are charged with gunning down Boulis back in 2001.

Hmm. I think the lesson here is, if you lie down with Abramoff, you get up with the Sopranos.

And the GOP's bagman is also a bit of a hitman.