Senate Democrats also 'ensnared' in scandal

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The National Republican Senatorial Committee said yesterday that almost all Senate Democrats have accepted money from scandal-plagued lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his associates or his Indian tribe clients.

"I think Democrats might want to be a little bit careful before they start pointing fingers," said Sean Spicer, spokesman for the House Republican Conference. "This is something that has ensnared both parties."

The Senate campaign committee said 39 of the Senate's 44 Democrats, plus Democrat-leaning independent James M. Jeffords of Vermont, have taken funds from Abramoff, directly or indirectly.

Republican pollster Whit Ayres said Republicans hope Democrats will be equally ensnared in the fallout to Abramoff's admission to purchasing support from lawmakers for his clients' initiatives.

The five Democrats excluded from the NRSC's list are Daniel K. Akaka of Hawaii, Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, Mark Dayton of Minnesota, Herb Kohl of Wisconsin and Frank R. Lautenberg of New Jersey.

But Democrats say their counterparts are distorting the facts.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, has distributed to her party's members a talking-points memo that stresses that every person indicted in the scandal is a Republican, every potential indictee in published reports is a Republican and that Abramoff directly contributed only to Republicans.

Meanwhile, the office of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, whom the NRSC highlighted as a recipient of considerable Abramoff-related money, scoffed.

Mr. Reid received money from Indian tribes connected to Abramoff, but never from the lobbyist, said Jim Manley, the senator's spokesman.

"Any contributions he received are part of lawful fundraising. Senator Reid has done nothing wrong," said Mr. Manley, adding that not "a single Democrat" took money directly from Abramoff.