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Vasell, S

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Shawn_Vasell

Shawn M. Vasell, a former senior aide to Senator Conrad Burns (R-Montana), joined the Hewlett-Packard Company's "government relations team in Washington," Washington Technology reported May 23, 2005. "Vasell most recently was director of government affairs at government relations specialist**Greenberg Traurig**LLC."

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Profiles

Conrad Burns hired Greenberg Traurig lobbyist Shawn Vasell "as his State Director in 2001. After a year-long stint with Burns, Vasell returned to Greenberg Traurig in January 2003. Vasell was listed as a lobbyist for the Saginaw Michigan Tribe in 2003," according to Roll Call March 1, 2005, and the December 18, 2003, Washington Post.

Vasell was a member of "Team Abramoff", the "more than a dozen lobbyists who were members of ... the tight-knit group who worked under"Jack Abramoff "when he was at the lobbying helm of the Washington office of Greenberg Traurig LLP and, before that, Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds LLP," James V. Grimaldi wrote in the June 26, 2005, Washington Post.

Vasell was of Preston Gates and a former staffer for both Porter Goss (R-Florida) and judiciary subcommittee chair Senator Spencer Abraham(R-Michigan), Ken Silverstein wrote in the January/February 1998 issue of Mother Jones.

2000 Florida Recount

"Four of Abramoff’s colleagues—all of whom have left Greenberg in the wake of investigations surrounding Abramoff’s activities—were foot soldiers in the Florida recount. Two of them bragged of their recount work on their official online Greenberg biographies, which have since been removed," John Byrne reported in the May 5, 2005, Raw Story.

"Shawn Vasell noted that he was a 'team leader' in Broward and Duval counties in his bio; Duane Gibson was photographed in the acclaimedBrooks Brothers riot of Republican operatives outside the Miami-Dade County polling headquarters; Todd Boulanger boasted of being on the Broward and Duval recount team in his profile. Also on the ground was former DeLay deputy chief of staff Tony Rudy.

"Boulanger drafted a letter DeLay signed urging the Interior Department to favor Abramoff’s client in June 2003—a letter cosigned by the House Republican leadership, including Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO)," Byrne wrote.

Fundraising with Abramoff

On June 3, 2003, Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert’s political action committee held "a $1,500-a-plate lunch at [Abramoff's restaurant] Signatures at which Hastert [was] the featured speaker. Abramoff and two other members of his staff may have been in attendance, as Hastert’s PAC records contributions of $6,250 from the lobbyist and six other members of his firm"--Todd A. Boulanger, Duane R. Gibson, Kevin A. Ring, Shawn Vasell, Neil G. Volz and Padgett Wilson--"shortly thereafter–including a $500 contribution from Boulanger," John Byrne reported inThe Raw Story, March 29, 2005.

Abramoff-Reed Indian Gambling Scandal

The Oversight Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on the In Re Tribal Lobbying Matters, Et Al., June 22, 2005. Witness List: Panel II: Statement of Shawn Vasell ("former Abramoff associate"). Vasell asserted his privilege under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

Lobby Watch

SourceWatch Resources

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1998

2001

2005

2006

Poacher used to work for Abramoff

Originally published December 23, 2005

HELENA — A former employee of Montana Sen. Conrad Burns and indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff has pleaded guilty to poaching and trespassing in Stillwater County.

Shawn Vasell, 33, of Arlington, Va., pleaded guilty to hunting without a license and hunting on private property without landowner consent. A plea agreement allowed him to avoid jail time.

But Vasell cannot hunt, fish or trap in Montana for two years. He also was fined $670 and had to pay $500 restitution for the value of the mule deer buck he shot.

The charges date back to Nov. 26, 2004, when Vasell poached a buck on private land without permission.

Vasell worked with Abramoff at the Washington, D.C., lobbying firm of Greenberg Traurig until 2002, when he quit to be Burns' statewide director in Billings. After a year with Burns, Vasell went back to lobbying with Abramoff.

He now lobbies for Hewlett Packard in Washington, U.S. Senate documents show. 

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?... 

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"Bolting" Preston Gates for Greenberg Traurig

On January 8, 2001, after nearly seven years at Preston Gates, Abramoff and seven members of his "lobbying team" "bolted from Preston Gates to become Senior Director of Governmental Affairs" at Greenberg Traurig, The Buzz reported March 28, 2001.

When asked by The Buzz why he had made the move, Abramoff's "response was that he liked the vision of Greenberg. 'They have a dominant presence,' he continued. Abramoff added, 'This move is an excellent opportunity for me and my clients with the new Administration.'"

Abramoff's "team" of people at Greenberg Traurig in March 2001 were listed as Michelle Diedrick, Shawn Vasell, Tony C. Rudy, Alan Slomowitz, Todd A. Boulanger, Amy F. Berger, Padgett Wilson (Pat Wilson), Sara Rizzo, Kevin A. Ring, Julie Plocki, and Susan B. Ralston.

"With a federal corruption case intensifying, prosecutors investigating Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist, are examining whether he brokered lucrative jobs for Congressional aides at powerful lobbying firms in exchange for legislative favors," Anne E. Kornblut, reported in the December 2, 2005, New York Times.

"Investigators are said to be especially interested in how Tony Rudy, a former deputy chief of staff to Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, andNeil G. Volz, a former chief of staff to Representative Bob Ney of Ohio, obtained lobbying positions with big firms on K Street," Kornblut wrote. "The hiring pattern is 'very much a part of' what prosecutors are focusing on, a person involved in the case said. Another participant confirmed that investigators were trying to determine whether aides conducted 'job negotiations with Jack Abramoff' while they were in a position to help him on Capitol Hill."

"Also under examination are payments to lobbyists and lawmakers' wives, including Mr. Rudy's wife, Lisa Rudy, whose firm, Liberty Consulting, worked in consultation with Mr. Abramoff, people involved in case said," Kornblut wrote.

"Of particular interest, according to several people involved in the case, are how Mr. Rudy, who left Mr. DeLay's office in 2001 to join Greenberg Traurig, and Mr. Volz, who left Mr. Ney's office in 2002 for that firm, obtained their positions. Investigators believe Mr. Abramoff may have solicited help from both men and their supervisors on Capitol Hill while helping arrange for high-paying positions, people familiar with case said."

"As investigators try to unravel the web of relationships between the lawmakers and the lobbyists, they are considering spouses' roles, people involved in the case said," Kornblut wrote.

Members of "Team Abramoff

The "A" Team

On December 12, 2005, the Washington Post stated that the "following individuals lobbied for tribal clients of Jack Abramoff and, along with some of their spouses, contributed money to politicians." The Washington Post article was accompanied by a chart citing members of the "A" Team as follows:

September 2002

In September 2002, the following were listed in the Greenberg Traurig Washington, DC, office.

Others Known to Have Worked with Abramoff

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