Part II -- Kevin Ring Indictment: MASHPEE WAMPANOAG

Part I -- Kevin Ring Indictment: ED BUCKHAM!

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Like Part I, this installment is intended to look at parts of the Kevin Ring indictment (.pdf) not covered by the MSM. Today, we look at paragraphs 141-143:

141. On or about October 2, 2003, defendant RING arranged a meeting between himself, a Massachusetts tribal client, and Representative [John Doolittle] in [Doolittle]'s congressional office.

142. On or about October 7, 2003, defendant RING sent an email to Representative [Doolittle]'s Legislative Director in which he stated, "Assuming [Doolittle] never called [a high level DOI official] after our meeting last week, I thought the attached letter would be okay to send to [Interior Secretary Gale Norton]. Pretty non-controversial -- says he doesn't take position on their petition for recognition, but thinks they deserve an answer. Assuming this is fine, please fax signed copy to me at [deleted]. Thanks. You the man."

143. On or about October 7, 2003, [Doolittle] caused a letter to be sent under his signature to the Secretary of the DOI in which he asked that the DOI respond to the Massachusetts tribal client's request for recognition expeditiously.

[Bolded proper nouns are my identification of less specific terms such as "Representative #5"]

It is obvious to me that the "Massachusetts tribal client" is the Mashpee Wampanoag, a tribe I originally mentioned a year and a half ago.

Rep. Doolittle had claimed a long standing opposition to gambling. The Mashpee Wampanoag, a client of Jack Abramoff, desperately wanted federal recognition in hopes of opening a casino. Why would Rep. Doolittle abandon his principles to prod the Bush Administration to help an Abramoff client earn federal recognition and open a casino?

Given what we read in the Mr. Ring's indictment, it is clear that federal prosecutors think there is something wrong with the Mashpee episode. If Mr. Ring bribed someone in this case, is it reasonable to believe that Rep. Doolittle was the one on the receiving end of the bribe?

Earlier this year, I sensed some movement on the Kevin Ring/Mashpee Wampanoag front. At the time, I wrote of my speculation:

"If I'm right, I don't know if Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) or former Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) should be more worried."

Seeing as Rep. Doolittle was mentioned in Kevin Ring's indictment and Rep. Pombo earned no ink that I can detect, I know the answer to that now. Rep. Doolittle's lawyers should be preparing to defend their client's actions regarding the federal recognition of the Mashpee Wampanoag.