Lobbyists and White Collar Crime

Paper Summary:

The paper describes the white collar crimes of lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, former House of Representatives majority leader, Tom DeLay and California Congressman, Duke Cunningham. The paper paints a picture of how lobbyists act essentially as brokers between corrupt businesspeople and interest groups, and between the politicians who can make those persons still richer and more powerful. The paper therefore shows how lobbyists and their politician allies are true white collar criminals, bending the law in non-violent ways to serve their own selfish ends.

From the Paper:

"Crime is not always violent or obvious; rather it often lurks beneath the surface of respectable activities and individuals. White Collar Crime is one of the most pressing problems in today's society, particularly within the realm of politics. Lobbyists and their allies frequently employ underhanded methods to gain influence and enrich themselves. American taxpayers are bilked out of millions of dollars and subjected to crooked policies, all at the behest of clever operatives who claim to work for the public good."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Grigg, W. N. (2006, February 6). Power Brokers: Jack Abramoff Brought Together Corrupt Politicians, the Criminal Underworld, and the Global Power Elite. The New American, 22, 21+.
• Lanier, M. M., & Henry, S. (1998). Essential Criminology. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
• Poveda, T. G. (1994). Rethinking White-Collar Crime. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
• Rozen, L. (2006, February). "Duke" of Deception: The Overlooked Security Implications of the Cunningham Scandal. The American Prospect, 17, 11+.
• Rozen, L. (2006, July/August). Watching the Detectives: Other Shoes Begin to Drop in the Duke Cunningham Bribery Scandal. The American Prospect, 17, 15+.

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