Michael D. Smith
Michael D. Smith worked with Jack Abramoff at Greenberg Traurig, from which Smith was asked to resign. Smith has worked since June 2005 as a lobbyist for Cornerstone Government Affairs in Washington, DC. Smith's new firm now represents the Meskawki Tribe of Iowa, which "dropped Greenberg Traurig amid the Abramoff lobbying scandal." [1][2]
Abramoff's Skybox
"Sen. Tom Harkin failed to account properly for two fundraisers he held in lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s skybox at Washington’s MCI Center in 2002 and 2003, according to filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and a spokeswoman for the Iowa Democrat," Josephine Hearn reported October 20, 2005, in The Hill.
"Several Greenberg Traurig lobbyists attended the Harkin events,... although their names were not readily available. ... Michael D. Smith, [while] a lobbyist at Greenberg Traurig, represented the Sac and Fox tribe from Iowa and would likely have had significant contact with Harkin’s office. Smith’s sister, Pam, is Harkin’s legislative director," Hearn wrote.
Fees Scandal
"Troubles continue for Greenberg Traurig's Washington, D.C., office in the wake of a furor over fees that were charged to Native American gaming clients," Kate Ackley and Andy Metzger reported in the October 20, 2004, Legal Times. "Another Greenberg Traurig lobbying partner, Michael Smith, received $20,000" in 2002 from Michael Scanlon's public affairs firm Capital Campaign Strategies, "the documents reveal. Greenberg, in a statement released late on Oct. 11, said Smith was staying with the firm."
"Four former Greenberg Traurig lobbyists besides disgraced former colleague Jack Abramoff took improper side payments in violation of company policy and have been referred to the Justice Department, a top law firm executive has disclosed," Julie Kay reported November 17, 2005, for Law.com. "The four other lobbyists now being questioned" are Kevin A. Ring, Jon W. van Horne, Michael Smith and Stephanie Leger Short.
SourceWatch Resources
External links
- Kate Ackley and Andy Metzger, "More Woes for Greenberg Traurig in Fees Scandal," Legal Times, October 20, 2004.
- John Byrne, "Tribal dispute raises new questions of Abramoff; Donations to senator scrutinized. Abramoff's former firm held three fundraisers for senator investigating Abramoff," The Raw Story, April 21, 2005.
- Jeffrey H. Birnbaum and Derek Willis, "Democrats Also Got Tribal Donations. Abramoff Issue's Fallout May Extend Beyond the GOP," Washington Post, June 3, 2005.
- "Meskwaki Tribe working with ex-Abramoff associate," Indianz.com, September 7, 2005.
- Josephine Hearn, "Harkin pays tribe for his use of skybox," The Hill, October 20, 2005.
- Julie Kay, "Greenberg Traurig Executive Describes Misconduct by Abramoff, Other Lobbyists," Law.com, November 17, 2005.
