TOM MORTON Star-Tribune staff writer | Posted: Monday, October 23, 2006 12:00 am
U.S. Senate candidate Democrat Dale Groutage chided incumbent Republican Sen. Craig Thomas for receiving $8,000 from disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff during a radio and television debate in Casper on Sunday afternoon.
Thomas acknowledged he received contributions from Abramoff in the late 1990s, but that was before information surfaced about the lobbyist's criminal practices, he said during the one-hour debate at the Parkway Plaza.
The two-term senator gave the tainted money to charity, he said.
Abramoff pleaded guilty in January to mail fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion charges. As part of a plea agreement, he agreed to share information with investigators about alleged bribes to lawmakers and their aides in an influence-peddling probe. He also pleaded guilty to separate charges of conspiracy and wire fraud stemming from his 2000 purchase of a gambling boat fleet. In April, Abramoff was sentenced to nearly six years imprisonment.
Abramoff deserved prosecution and sentencing, Thomas said.
After Abramoff's conviction, Thomas donated a total of $8,000 - including $2,000 from Abramoff and his wife in 1999, and $6,000 from Indian tribes Abramoff represented in 2003 and 2004 - to the community fund for the victims of the August 2005 tornado in Wright.
"There have been a number of changes made in terms of lobbying and the dollars," Thomas said. "It just needs to be visible, it needs to be open; and those people who break the law need to be prosecuted."
That didn't satisfy Groutage.
"Craig Thomas is caught up in this Abramoff scandal," he said
Thomas kept the money during the investigation and knew the facts about Abramoff, but kept the money until the guilty plea, he said.
Meanwhile, Thomas tried to interfere with the investigation, Groutage said.
Thomas then took the opportunity to chide Groutage back.
"Again, you've got your facts a little confused, but I won't hold you responsible for your youth and inexperience," Thomas said.
The Groutage (age 66) and Thomas (age 73) debate was the first of six debates in Casper sponsored by Wyoming Public Radio, Wyoming Public Television and KTWO-TV. Bob Beck of Wyoming Public Radio and Geoff O'Gara of Wyoming Public Television asked questions of the candidates, moderated questions between the candidates, uttered words or phrases for candidates' responses, and gave candidates 90 seconds for closing statements.
The candidates took questions about illegal immigration, the deficit and the national debt, wolves, health care, energy, the tax cuts of the Bush administration and their effects on the economy, Iraq and who is best able to represent Wyoming.
Groutage, an engineer who worked for more than 30 years with the U.S. Navy, said the U.S. government is off course.
During his closing statements, he said Thomas received more than $100,000 from electric utility companies while energy rates went up, and received $100,000 from the health care industry as health care prices rose, and received $1 million from other industries.
"Do you know who Sen. Thomas represents? Is it the people of Wyoming, or the special interests?" Groutage asked.
Thomas, during his closing remarks, didn't address those questions.
Instead, he recounted the honor of representing Wyoming, working to make government accountable, and working for local control of government, he said.
"I have special interests, and my special interests are the people of Wyoming," Thomas said.
"I believe Wyoming has benefited from my leadership and there is much left to do," he said. "I ask you for your vote."
Reporter Tom Morton can be reached at (307) 266-0592, or at Tom.Morton@casperstartribune.net.