Lobbyist Abramoff faces more charges; guilty plea expected

WASHINGTON - Lobbyist Jack Abramoff will plead guilty to federal charges in Washington and Miami, clearing the way for him to cooperate in a massive government investigation of influence peddling involving members of Congress, lawyers said today. Prosecutors were filing conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion charges against the embattled lobbyist, a Justice Department official said. Abramoff was scheduled to appear at a hearing in U.S. District Court here later today, said department spokesman Bryan Sierra. Abramoff was expected to plead guilty to three charges as part of his agreement. Abramoff was then to plead guilty to two criminal charges in Florida stemming from a 2000 purchase of a fleet of gambling boats, said Neal Sonnett, his attorney there. Abramoff will plead guilty to two of the six charges in a federal indictment, Sonnett said. U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck has scheduled a telephone status conference for later today. Four other charges in Florida will remain pending. Any such plea agreement likely would secure the Republican lobbyist's testimony against several members of Congress who received favors from him or his clients. The Justice Department is believed to be focusing on as many as 20 lawmakers and aides. Pressure had been intensifying on Abramoff to strike a deal with prosecutors since former partner Adam Kidan pleaded guilty earlier this month to fraud and conspiracy in connection with the 2000 SunCruz boat deal in Florida. Abramoff's cooperation would be a boon to an ongoing Justice Department investigation of congressional corruption, possibly helping prosecutors build criminal cases against up to two-dozen lawmakers of both parties and their staff members. The continuing saga of Abramoff's legal problems has caused anxiety at high levels in Washington, in both the Republican and Democratic parties. White House spokesman Scott McClellan could not say to day whether Abramoff ever met President Bush. When asked at the White House about this, the spokesman said that &#8220what he is reportedly acknowledged doing is unacceptable and outrageous.” &#8220If laws were broken, he must be held to account for what he did,” McClellan said. --- Associated Press Writer Curt Anderson in Miami contributed to this story.