The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, newly finding its cajones, goes after Reed yet again (
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/0605/19reed.html):
Golf trip raises doubts
Reed's fellow players had link to casino
By ALAN JUDD
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When he boarded a private jet for Scotland in August 2002, Ralph Reed was basking in success.
His work in Texas had helped close an Indian casino, and now the Christian Coalition leader-turned-political consultant could celebrate on the famous golf course at St. Andrew's with his client and friend Jack Abramoff.
But Abramoff had organized the trip for a different purpose, according to testimony to a U.S. Senate committee: to ensure a congressman's support for reopening the Texas casino -- the same casino Abramoff had paid Reed to work against.
Reed spent hours on the plane with Abramoff and four others, including the congressman, Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio). He spent days in Scotland, sharing meals and golf with the small party. But Reed says he knew nothing about the effort to reopen the casino, an assertion that leaves his critics incredulous.
Reed's presence on the trip has come to light through an investigation into Washington's biggest lobbying scandal in decades.
The Senate Indian Affairs Committee is scheduled to resume hearings Wednesday into allegations that Abramoff and public relations consultant Michael Scanlon swindled the Tigua Indians. They are accused of secretly working through Reed to close the tribe's casino in El Paso, and then collecting millions from the Tiguas to lobby Congress in a failed attempt to reopen the gambling hall.
How much Reed knew about Abramoff's activities remains an open question as he embarks on his first run for office: lieutenant governor of Georgia. The Republican candidate, who has acknowledged collecting more than $4 million from Abramoff and Scanlon, declined to speak for publication about the matter last week. Spokeswoman Lisa Baron said Reed paid his own way to Scotland, returned on a separate plane and did nothing wrong.
"Ralph had no knowledge or involvement whatsoever in later attempts to open a casino he worked so hard to close," Baron said Friday. "Period."
A review of documents from the Senate investigation and interviews with three dozen people involved in the matter suggest Reed played an integral role in at least the first half of the alleged scheme.
Reed, a longtime gambling opponent, apparently mounted a radio campaign in 2001 that prompted Texans to inundate their legislators with anti-casino telephone calls. He organized pastors in 2002 to provide what he called "cover" for the Texas attorney general, who had filed a lawsuit to close the Tiguas' casino. Reed once wrote an e-mail to Abramoff suggesting they "budget for an ataboy" for the attorney general.
As the Tigua campaign unfolded, Abramoff and Reed exchanged e-mails that paint an unvarnished picture of their work together.
"I wish those moronic Tiguas were smarter in their political contributions," Abramoff wrote to Reed in a 2002 message that since has been widely circulated. "I'd love us to get our mitts on that moolah!! Oh well, stupid folks get wiped out."
"Got it," Reed replied.
Nothing, however, raises more questions among Reed's critics than the trip to Scotland.....