Casino Lobbyist Faces Questions of Influence Peddling

By John Ydstie

Published September 30, 2004 at 12:00 AM EDT

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee grilled a lobbyist, who, with his business partner, collected millions of dollars in fees from tribes operating casinos. Jack Abramoff, who has close ties to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination as senators read back e-mails where Abramoff made insulting and racist remarks about Native Americans. NPR's John Ydstie reports.

John Ydstie

John Ydstie has covered the economy, Wall Street, and the Federal Reserve at NPR for nearly three decades. Over the years, NPR has also employed Ydstie's reporting skills to cover major stories like the aftermath of Sept. 11, Hurricane Katrina, the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. He was a lead reporter in NPR's coverage of the global financial crisis and the Great Recession, as well as the network's coverage of President Trump's economic policies. Ydstie has also been a guest host on the NPR news programs Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. Ydstie stepped back from full-time reporting in late 2018, but plans to continue to contribute to NPR through part-time assignments and work on special projects.

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