The wait must be kiling Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) right about now. He may have heard about other lawmakers being raided, but he's still waiting prosecutors' next move in their investigation of his and his wife's ties to Jack Abramoff.
What that mext move is likely depends largely on what they learn from Kevin Ring, Doolitt's former legislative director.
Ring, a 36-year-old married father of two, figures prominently in his former boss' connections to Abramoff, a friend of Doolittle's who gave the congressman campaign cash and use of his sports box. Doolittle, who has denied wrongdoing, tried to advance the agendas of Abramoff's clients both in Congress and with the Bush administration.
What Ring tells prosecutors could determine Doolittle's fate.
"The incentive for the subordinate to cooperate is to save his own skin by implicating a superior," said Kenneth Gross, a political law attorney in Washington.
According to the article, Doolittle wanted Abramoff to find work for his wife Julie. In 2000, the year Ring joined Abramoff's lobbying firm, he emailed Abramoff about Doolittle's request. The Doolittles say they don't recall that happening, and in any case no job came from it. However, in 2002 Abramoff did hire Julie Doolittle for some consulting work at about $5000/month, for about a year and a half.
What else Ring can enlighten investigators about regarding his actions as a go-between for Doolittle and Abramoff remain to be seen.
