Jack Abramoff.
Photograph: Gerald Herbert/APIt has the potential to be the "biggest congressional scandal in American history", the Guardian reported today. Jack Abramoff, a well-connected Republican lobbyist, has agreed to testify against top politicians in a move which could "lift the lid on the culture of corruption in Congress".
Mr Abramoff collected tens of millions of dollars in fees to lobby politicians who were wined and dined in his own restaurant, hosted in corporate boxes and even flown on all-expenses paid golf trips to Scotland. Details of the charges are listed in court papers and in Mr Abramoff's plea bargain.
The Washington Post, which has kept a close watch on developments, agrees the case will have a major impact. "The questions echoing around the capital [yesterday] were what other careers - and what other familiar ways of doing business - are endangered?" it reported. It has a graphic explaining where the donations came from and how they were spent. It is also possible to browse Mr Abramoff's political contributions by searching for his name at the Federal Electoral Commission website.
Meanwhile, amid the complicated allegations of underhand political shenanigans, I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one to be distracted by the hat Mr Abramoff chose to wear outside court yesterday. Could the headgear be an indication of the drama to come, perhaps?
