By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
WASHINGTON — A free trip to New York and a ticket to attend the first game of the World Series in 2003: Priceless.
Receiving all that from lobbyists linked to the infamous Jack Abramoff: Costly.
Trevor L. Blackann, a former legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate is now paying for the freebies.
The 34-year-old pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington to failing to report as income thousands of dollars of illegal gifts from lobbyists tied to convicted top-dog lobbyist Jack Abramoff including the New York trip for the World Series.
As part of the freebies, Blackann also was chauffeured around New York, got a souvenir baseball jersey, admission to and entertainment at a “gentlemen’s club” and free meals and drinks, the Justice Department said.
As part of his plea, he admitted knowing the gifts were given to him because the lobbyists were seeking favors, the Justice Department said.
The case is part of an ongoing probe into Jack Abramoff’s activities, the Justice Department said. So far, 15 people have pleaded guilty or are awaiting trial as a result of the investigation into public corruption on Capitol Hill.
