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Senator: Reed Helped to Conceal Indian Payments

WASHINGTON, DC – As reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Ralph Reed helped orchestrate an effort to conceal payments he received from the gambling revenues of a Louisiana Indian tribe, according to a U.S. Senator speaking at a hearing in Washington.

"Reed directed that his compensation from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana be routed through 'a variety of entities ... because of his concern about being publicly associated with gambling money,' U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) said as the Senate Indian Affairs Committee opened its latest in a series of hearings into lobbying fees charged to tribes that own casinos.

"Dorgan said documents to be released later today will show that a $400,000 payment went from the Coushatta tribe to a tribal vendor to a foundation associated with Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and, finally, to Reed's Duluth-based consulting firm, Century Strategies.

"Reed and others involved in the effort knew that the money came directly from the Coushatta casino revenues, Dorgan said, citing a tribal lawyer. A former Coushatta official later testified that the tribe "has one and only one business."

"The accusation would establish for the first time that Reed – a former Christian Coalition leader now running for lieutenant governor of Georgia – knowingly accepted consulting fees directly from gaming revenues.

"…Since his involvement with Abramoff, the target of several congressional and criminal investigations, became known in 2004, Reed – an avowed gambling opponent – repeatedly has said he accepted no money from gambling income. That distinction has become important to his campaign, which has relied in part on his connections to the Christian evangelical community…"

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