Former DOJ Official Pleads Guilty In Abramoff-Related Case

Robert E. Coughlin II, former deputy chief of staff of the DOJ’s criminal division, on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a single count of violating federal conflict-of-interest laws in connection with the Jack Abramoff public corruption scandal. His plea was entered before before US District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle in the District of Columbia.  Coughlin admitted accepting meals, concert tickets and luxury seats at sporting events from a lobbyist who has been identified by sources as Kevin Ring, a key lobbyist for Abramoff, while helping Ring and Abramoff’s clients by leaking inside information, attempting to influence department colleagues and providing other help. Coughlin accepted the gifts from 2001 to 2003 while he was working on legislative affairs for the DOJ.  Under a plea agreement with the government, he faces up to 10 months in prison and is actively cooperating with prosecutors who are investigating Ring. Court papers also refer to at least two other unnamed DOJ officials who accepted meals from Ring.  Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) and his wife Julie are known to be still under investigation in the Abramoff scandal and have been linked to Ring, who once worked for Doolittle, so Coughlin may also provide information in that matter (AP, Washington Post).