WASHINGTON

REPORT: ABRAMOFF SOUGHT HELP FROM REED TO LOBBY WHITE HOUSE

Jack Abramoff, the GOP lobbyist under investigation by federal authorities for fraud, repeatedly sought the help of Bush strategist Ralph Reed to open doors at the White House for his business clients, according to e-mail made public yesterday. The e-mails show that Mr. Abramoff pushed for intervention from the deputy White House chief of staff, Karl Rove, on at least three occasions since 2001 to promote business opportunities.

A former head of the Christian Coalition and a nominee in the 2006 race for Georgia’s lieutenant governor, Mr. Reed, wrote back obliging responses, according to the e-mail obtained by Time magazine. The e-mail is now being reviewed by federal investigators, Time reported. The e-mail show that 10 days after the September 11, 2001, attacks, Mr. Abramoff promoted a business venture to rent cruise ships to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to house rescue workers off New York City.

– Associated Press

FRIST WAS GIVEN INFORMATION ON HCA HOLDINGS

Senate Majority Leader Frist, a Republican from Tennessee, was given considerable information about his stake in his family’s hospital company, according to records that are at odds with his past statements that he did not know what was in his stock holdings.

Managers of the trusts that Dr. Frist once described as “totally blind,” regularly informed him when they added new shares of HCA Incorporated or other assets to his holdings, according to the documents. Since 2001, the trustees have written to Dr. Frist and the Senate 15 times detailing the sale of assets from or the contribution of assets to trusts of Dr. Frist and his family. The letters provided included notice of the addition of HCA shares worth $500,000 to $1 million in 2001 and HCA stock worth $750,000 to $1.5 million in 2002. The trust agreements require the trustees to inform Mr. Frist and the Senate whenever assets are added or sold.

– The Washington Post

RECORDS SHOW VIOLATIONS IN FBI SECRET SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS

The FBI has conducted clandestine surveillance on some American residents for as long as 18 months at a time without proper paperwork or oversight, according to previously classified documents to be released today.

Records turned over as part of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit also indicate the FBI has investigated hundreds of potential violations related to its use of secret surveillance operations, which have been stepped up dramatically in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks but are largely hidden from public view. In some cases, agents obtained e-mails after a warrant expired, seized bank records without proper authority and conducted an improper “unconsented physical search,” according to the documents.

– The Washington Post