White Collar Crime
Ex-DOJ Official With Abramoff Ties Pleads Guilty
Posted Apr 23, 2008, 08:47 am CDT
By Molly McDonough
A former Justice Department higher-up, Robert E. Coughlin II, pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting thousands of dollars worth of meals and tickets from disgraces lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for helping Abramoff's clients.
Coughlin, who was charged Monday, is the latest of more than a dozen public officials, lobbyists and congressional staff to be ensnared by the corruption probe, the Washington Post reports.
Coughlin, 36, has agreed to cooperate with the continuing investigation and may turn out to be a key witness, the Post reports. Coughlin, who was then in the DOJ's legislative affairs office, reportedly acknowledged working with Kevin A. Ring, a member of Abramoff's lobbying team at Greenberg Traurig.
Specifically, Coughlin admitted he leaked department information, attended meetings and contacted his Justice colleagues to help clients of Abramoff and Ring, the Post reports.
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