Abramoff deputy takes responsibility for actions

WASHINGTON – A lobbyist accused of lavishing government officials with trips, event tickets and pricey meals in exchange for favors benefiting his clients says he is taking responsibility for his actions.
Todd Boulanger, a former deputy to imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff, was charged Wednesday with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to appear Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Washington as part of a plea agreement.
Boulanger's attorney, Mark Flanagan, said his client wants to quickly resolve the case and is cooperating with the investigation into the corruption scandal that has already resulted in convictions of several Washington officials .
"Mr. Boulanger regrets this situation and is accepting responsibility for certain past conduct," his attorney, Mark Flanagan, said in a statement.
Boulanger was an aide to former Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., and then worked with Abramoff at two lobbying firms — Preston Gates & Ellis and Greenberg Traurig — representing clients including the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
Court documents say Boulanger, Abramoff and another lobbyist named Kevin Ring tried to get gifts for a legislative assistant in the Senate, described as "Staffer E," who was in a position to help with legislation benefiting the Mississippi tribe. An attorney with knowledge of the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation, said "Staffer E" is Ann Copland, a former aide to Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.
The documents say Ring forwarded an e-mail from "Staffer E" to Abramoff and Boulanger on March 11, 2002, suggesting he felt she was getting greedy in her requests from the lobbyists. Ring wrote, "Wow ... We already told her she was fine on McCartney, ice skating and Green Day — although we need to let her know how many tix she can have for each. Also, please review the other requests and let me know what we can do there."
Boulanger replied that the staffer "should get everything she wants." Abramoff added, "She'll get everything she wants."
Ring is awaiting trial on charges of conspiring to corrupt government officials.
Abramoff is cooperating in a wide-ranging investigation of his corrupt relations with officials that has resulted in convictions against former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, former Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles and several top Capitol Hill aides.