Republicans ask Bush to say who met Abramoff

Published 9:00 pm Sunday, January 29, 2006

WASHINGTON – Three Republican lawmakers on Sunday urged President Bush to disclose who in the White House had met with lobbyist Jack Abramoff and what was discussed in those meetings.

Abramoff, once one of the most influential lobbyists in Washington, pleaded guilty earlier this month to criminal charges in a bribery probe that is expected to involve members of Congress and possibly the Interior Department.

But his contacts also reached into the White House; Abramoff was a major fundraiser for Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign, and he had his photo taken several times with the president. Last week, Bush told reporters that the two men had no personal relationship.

Bush’s press secretary, Scott McClellan, has said the photos are typical of receiving-line pictures at large White House events. The administration has acknowledged that Abramoff attended two Hanukkah receptions and also met on several occasions with members of the White House staff.

Bush has refused to release the photos, saying the Democrats would use them for “pure political purposes.”

Asked about Abramoff on the Sunday talk shows, the Republican lawmakers said the White House should release all records of its contacts with the now-disgraced lobbyist.

“I’m one who believes that more is better … when it comes to disclosure and transparency, so I’d be a big advocate for making records that are out there available,” Sen. John Thune of South Dakota told “Fox News Sunday.”

The photos should not be released, he said, “but I do think it’s important that everybody understand what this guy’s level of involvement was.”

Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, appearing on the same program, agreed on the need for the White House to release its records related to Abramoff.

“Absolutely. I think this president is a man of unimpeachable integrity,” Pence said. “The American people have profound confidence in him. And as Abraham Lincoln said, give the people the facts and republican governance, perhaps, will be saved.”

White House counselor Dan Bartlett told CNN’s “Late Edition” that the president had no plans to release the records or the photos to the public, but that he would release them to prosecutors if requested.