The Skybox At The MCI Center

Popular spot. AP (04.20.05), via Guardian Unlimited:

"House Majority Leader Tom DeLay treated his political donors to a bird's-eye view of a Three Tenors concert from an arena skybox leased by a lobbyist now under criminal investigation. DeLay's political action committee did not reimburse lobbyist Jack Abramoff for the May 2000 use of the skybox, instead treating it as a type of donation that didn't have to be disclosed to election regulators at the time." Lobbyist Gave DeLay Skybox for Donors

The Three Tenors? That would be opera stars Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti. AP (04.20.05):

"Rep. Bob Ney (R - OH18), held a campaign fund raiser at a Washington Wizards basketball game two years ago but failed to report the use of a $1,500 luxury suite leased to an Indian tribe, according to amended campaign finance reports filed this week. The event at the MCI Center in downtown Washington was hosted by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians of Banning, Calif., which operates a casino, resort and spa near Palm Springs. Ney's campaign committee neglected to reimburse the tribe for renting the suite - valued at about $1,500 - or report the use of the suite as an in-kind contribution, as required by federal election law." Ney neglected to report campaign money

For purposes of full and complete disclosure, the AP story about Mr. Ney doesn't say if this was Jack's skybox or not. Oh, and they are gonna probe Tom. AP (04.20.05), via Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

"Retreating under pressure, Republicans on the House ethics committee said Wednesday they were ready to open an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing against Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Four of the five Republicans on the committee were ready to move ahead, said Rep. Doc Hastings (R - WA4), the panel's Republican chairman. The panel also has five Democratic members." GOP Offers DeLay Ethics Probe

This oughtta be good.