UPDATE: LOBBYIST’S DONATIONS

The Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff reportedly used a Jewish nonprofit organization, Toward Tradition, as a conduit for money in an attempt to influence a top aide of Rep. Tom DeLay, who was House Majority Leader at the time, reports the Forward. Using a $50,000 donation from two of Mr. Abramoff’s clients, the organization hired Lisa Rudy, wife of Representative DeLay’s deputy chief of staff, according to a report in The Seattle Times. The clients said they did not know how their donation would be used. The organization’s leader, Orthodox Rabbi Daniel Lapin, told the newspaper that he and his board were unaware that the donation was part of a plan to influence Congress. “We were innocently hiring someone to do a job,” Mr. Lapin said.

Also, lawmakers from both political parties continue to donate to charities the money they received from Mr. Abramoff, reports the Associated Press.