Former VOA Chief Accused Of Taking Abramoff Gifts

Horace Cooper

Former VOICE OF AMERICA Chief of Staff HORACE COOPER has been accused of taking gifts from convicted lobbyist JACK ABRAMOFF in charges levied FRIDAY in federal court. 

COOPER, who served as former House Majority Leader DICK ARMEY's aide before working at the VOA and at the Labor Department, has been charged with taking thousands of dollars worth of gifts from ABRAMOFF, who is serving a four-year sentence in the scandal, over the period 1998 through 2005.  The gifts, which authorities allege were given in exchange for obtaining federal money from the VOA and State Department for ABRAMOFF's TV production company, included free meals at ABRAMOFF's restaurants and sports and concert tickets.

COOPER will answer charges of conspiracy, fraudulent concealment, false statements and obstruction of an official proceeding at a SEPTEMBER 9th hearing in WASHINGTON.  He could serve a maximum of 40 years in prison.

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