3.5 years? There are literally thousands of people that are serving LIFE SENTENCES for non-violent drug offenses. The system is upside down.

The problem is not the illegal things that these people do. It's the things that are legal that shouldn't be.

An amazing amazing piece that is worth watching and rewatching - a reminder of just how pathetic politicians are and the power of corruption.

people are so mad at him but honestly, study accounts of other White collar criminals. They all deny deny deny and don't even acknowledge their wrongs. This guy is honest about it and admitting his faults, so respect it

This was 8 years ago., and I just learned about this guy, shouldn't the media be all over this?

Wow, the sad thing about this is that Jack feels remorse and has to suffer the consequences of his actions, which he should, he absolutely did terrible things but- there are plenty of other lobbyists who will never feel the weight of their sins because they will never get caught or exposed. I liked his last warning though, about preventing a Congressman from becoming a lobbyist, that sounds like something useful that will prevent any more worms from finding a loophole to wriggle through.

now he is going to lobby against lobbying lolololol

The best part of this is that he worked as an accountant at a kosher pizza parlor. In Maryland.

very honest about dishonesty

our founding fathers would've been sad and disgusted at the amount of corruption in our government.....

This is a good interview. It´s disturbing but good. :-)

If you think Jack Abramoff was a scary bad guy. You might want to look at all the people surrounding him and find out hes the only guy that didn't keep the money!

The worst part is there are thousands of Jacks running around D.C. - outlaw lobbyists.

Lady Gaga gets 440 million views on ONE video, this gets 32K. We are screwed!

Hell three years in prison after making twenty million a year, I would say that is worth it.

Why is Jack Abramoff the only lobbyist who has gone to jail? There are so many others all in bed together. Sickening.

Note that he was not a whistleblower - the press unmasked him.

You can tell he’s a really smart guy that could bend and break the law with subtlety and grace. He might be done lobbying for clients but many like him still roam Washington DC, and my guess is the geniuses among them will never be caught. So, that said, lobbying should be illegal, period.

How is it this guy is already walking free? thats the real question!

@Kultmannen ....Furthermore, financing from any source other than the public financing allotment would never be allowed under penalty of law and disqualification of candidacy. One of the stipulations for public financing would be full disclosure of every dollar spent. Otherwise, a person would not be able to run for public office. Period. The amount of graft and corruption this would eliminate would totally change this nation.

This interview and content was 9 years ago…imagine what has went on since then!!!???!!

It's like hacking law plain and simple. When it comes down to hacking there always seems to be some hole, same thing here except many don't want these holes patched.

Most notorious and crooked??? Please! He just happened to get caught!

ok then list all those you "bought" or did work for and convict them too...this way it will cut down on those thinking its only the lobbiest fault or crime....

So my question here is. What is the big difference in what he did, and in some company donating millions to a political campaign knowing that politician will then act in their favor? Because political donations are completely legal, no?

You shouldn't go into public service to get rich, it should be to serve the public...

I think you should bring him and Senator Elizabeth Warren on 60 minutes and have a joint discussion about reforms in Washington that would work to clean up big money flowing into the Senate and Congress and the influence it has on the members like Minority leader Mitch multi millionaire McConnell and others like him and their ability to stop any legislation reform bills to get though the Senate and Congress

still the most important piece 60 minutes ever did

I like this very much! These people being interviewed come off as totally honest and no shame in telling the truth.

Three and 1/2 years...that will teach him! Sickening...

You have to look at those people who are homeless, because of sickness or something they didn’t count on, and wonder why our government is living in the law of luxury. We need to govern our government. They are untouchable, and it makes me sad.

scrolled through at least 20 comments and not one joke about his name. come on people, thats comedy gold right there

The system will never change he was just a pawn ♟ in the game. He gets caught new players come in the game.

How many of this people went to jail? These people should have been put in jail and thrown away the key. 3.5 years in jail for millions of dollars is a sweatttt deal.

He meditated in jail and realized how fucked up his life was

I have seen this video many times and Jack's voice now makes me mad. I'm with Leslie on this one. He and the politicians involved are what turn people off of politics.

How money STILL corrupts Washington.

Sickening and saddening. At least he is doing his part to shed some light on what is really going on. We need a complete restart in the country for the sake of our kids and our kids kids.

I have a lot of respect for him to actually tell everything on how he done it, and talk about how destructive his work was

If they didn’t get caught it, they’ll be doing it today.

I’m following this genius lobby playbook

I didn't know we were in agreement about so many things.

Ron Paul is one of those rare *uncorruptables* Lobbyists just keep walking, knowing they'd be wasting their time.

@dlhsonic I think you hit the nail on the head. One party is not to be blamed over the other. The situation is that NONE can be trusted to have our better interest in mind. I admit I have a tougher time dealing w/Conservatives simply because their NEED FOR GREED or avarice as you so delightfully put it. But lobbyist come from both sides. Change is needed and therefore should be demanded.

We the sheeple allow this to happen.

Leslie Stahl crushed this segment.

I hope he learned his lesson, and if he did I hope he joins us against the corrupt system.

They should make all congressmen and senators reveal what their net worth is. There should be full transparency.

oh. my. gosh.

happens all the time

Great video 👍👍

indited again June 2020, makes me sick

why didn't the congressman and staffers go to jail...smh

Thanks for your collection of opinions here! What would you do if you were in the position [in question]? I toss everything I hear come through. As much as possible, I reflect it.

People like this still in office today 🙄

At least these people are willing to talk about this, for every 1 lobbyist or politician speaking up, there are probably several others silently still involved

Sickening

I see him more as a "Catch Me If You Can" type crook: one who got his head straight and is now trying to do good with his knowledge. It doesn't sound like one thing he did was actually illegal at the time he was doing it. It was simply unethical. How do you get convicted for "overcharging" Indian tribes?

It's ridiculous. What is JUST as ridiculous is how surprised some people were to find this out. LOL This, to some people, is actually news. Like they didn't know about this for the passed 25 years.

WOW! Unbelievable

If he wants to prove he is sorry, then he should become poor to see how most Americans like my self will live 20 years from now. Thank you lobbyist for showing me that I don't need "things"

A night janitor, that's rich. I guess after being a senior Washington staffer that is the only job you are qualified for.

And they say the 99% have nothing to complain about... How about this?

@cheezombie Too many people have conservatism confused with Fascism. I am a conservative Republican and mad as hell about how fascism has took control of the Republican party.

Does anyone know a link to the casino bill loophole?

We the People should hire JA as a lobbyist for the purpose of decreasing the power of lobbyists. Could we all say then he is redeemed?

The irony of this story is that 60 Minutes is benefiting from access to this information and the name Abramoff. They are paying for this access by plugging his book and keeping him in the news. 60 minutes boosts their ratings (and ad sales) and Mr Abramoff boost his profile and book sales. Abramoff is making money by being a "reformer" now. 60 Minutes is playing it safe by working with him, rather than looking into the current system and players.

@ESX888 Great point !!!!

I like how he knows it is wrong, but waited until he got his millions and was busted before doing anything ethical about it.

Its only wrong when you get caught.

Two Questions. How many politicians that he bought were punished ? Why hasn't anyone discussed making Lobbying illegal? It seems like a no-brainer.

How much do you think 60 min offered this guy?

only 4 years of prision? i want to believe this guy has become a different person, but i don't know that i ever will.

"When you're done GO HOME" haha

Its not a gift if you expect something in return. The action that was described would be more accurately summed up as simply one side of a transaction.

How can such smart people, do stupid things...Now I got to read those bills!

yo i have to watch this for public speaking someone should write my discussion on the views of lobbyists

There are individuals that operate at these levels who could deserve a death penalty. Judges need to increase there sentencing guidelines. As its not fair to allow people who make the laws to set there own sentences. And why does every sentence end with "a prison sentence?"

Lol no change whatsoever 🤣 We still have 11,000 lobbyists

When you have to ask if its legal, 9 out 10 its not.

The ones accepting the money should have been in trouble too

scary stuff. the 80s was a crazy decade

@Kultmannen...Thanks for asking. Purely public financing of all elections would require one to qualify their candidacy for public financing by showing enough public support through valid petition signatures. So every qualifying candidate would receive the same amount of campaign funding. No longer would one's chances of election be based on how personally wealthy one is, but even more importantly, their chances would not hinge on how deeply they brown-nose the corporate interests.

Two decades ago we had none!

Oh no. Not the detestible Lesley Stahl.

Has this ever been on the world news networks?

Well..I am not surprised watching this 🎥..It's reminding me of the story that was told when I was teenager that when my Dad was working as high ranking government officials== tax auditor against the crooks in Vietnam in the 60's..There were so much corruptions that bribery was the norm..Yearly, he refused so much of those bribery but then ended up living in fear of dead threats of his wife and kids would be kidnapped..What a shame for such government's systems..Well..Eventually, he had to resign from his position due to opposing to the corrupted crooks related to the current President==>the end of his hard working career that he loved and proud of..This is called REALITY OF LIFESTYLE of CORPORATIONS CORRUPTION 🤝 Government's Systems..Nothing has ever changed as similar as those "OLDEST💋 PROFESSIONS 💋IN THE WORLD"..😉😉..

Selling your country is a crime. Life time jail!

Every American should educate themselves about the corruption in our system and vote locally to change the laws. Until lobbying stops the few run country while most Americans suffer. It’s sickening and a disgrace.

Leslay Stahl at 9:25 is everyone who watches this.

This is why we need a constitutional amendment to bar corporations and unions from making campaign donations and limit what individuals can contribute.

Members don't read the bills....

Just ban lobbying from Washington. Problem solved. Also to become a representative of this country, you have to want it so bad that you have to sell your stocks, leave boards, and completely dedicate yourself to the Nation. The only income you can have is what you make from being a representative. It is not a position of power, it is a position of representation.

Corrupt the gov't, get 3 years in prison.

The ability to read deception is paramount to becoming a good judge. Great judges are born and not made.

the really hustle...

The interviewer looks so concerned and disgusted at the same time. And folks blame everyone on the lower end of the scale, the working families, moms, big families, homeless, poor.

So a lobbyist is taking a congressman to a charity dinner or fundraiser is not a conflict of interest? But he can’t take him out for a $30 steak personally by themselves. Lol

It just shows how persuasive he must've been.

Lesley Stahl is really a disappointment.