For the next few weeks, Citizens Blogging will take an in-depth look at each of the members of Congress featured in "Beyond DeLay."

Today's spotlight will shine on Montana Senator Conrad Burns. On September 15, 2006, Time Magazine reported that Burns may be the next member of Congress indicted in the Abramoff scandal:

A source close to the investigation told TIME that scores of US prosecutors and FBI agents continue to examine the activities of other sitting members of Congress and prominent individuals who could face prosecution, though not necessarily before the November 7 election. The source confirmed previous public reports that particular scrutiny is being paid to Sen. Conrad Burns, a Montana Republican who faces a tough campaign for reelection.

"A lot of the conduct to which Ney has pleaded guilty is similar to the alleged conduct of Senator Conrad Burns and his staff," points out Melanie Sloan, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a non-profit watchdog group.

Burn's earned the designation as one of the most corrupt members of Congress primarily because of the his tangled relationship with lobbyist Jack Abramoff:

Sen. Burns' campaign committees have received substantial contributions from former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Mr. Abramoff's associates and Mr. Abramoff's tribal clients. In fact, Sen. Burns received more money from Mr. Abramoff than did any other Member of Congress. Between 2000 and 2002, these donors contributed a whopping 42% of the total money received by Burns' political action committee, totaling more than $137,000.

In apparent exchange, Sen. Burns applied pressure to the Interior Department to direct a $3 million federal grant intended for poor tribal schools to the Saginaw Chippewa tribe of Michigan, one of the wealthiest tribes in the country (each member of the tribe receives $70,000 annually) and a client of Mr. Abramoff's. When that failed, Sen. Burns earmarked the money for the Saginaw Chippewa in a 2004 Senate appropriations bill.

By trading legislative assistance for campaign contributions, Sen. Burns may have violated federal laws prohibiting bribery and honest services fraud as well as Senate rules.

In an article that appeared in Vanity Fair in April of 2006, Burns was described as "Abramoff's point man in the Senate for federal goodies." In that piece, Abramoff spoke of the close relationship he had with the Montana Senator:

"Every appropriation we wanted [from Burns's committee] we got," he says. "Our staffs were as close as they could be. They practically used Signatures as their cafeteria. I mean, it's a little difficult for him to run from that record."

So what is the alleged corruption by Burns? If, as it appears, Senator Burns accepted campaign donations in exchange for his actions on behalf of Abramoff's client, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe, he may have violated the federal bribery statute. Also, if, as it appears, Senator Burns accepted a donation to his political action committee in exchange for opposition to increased regulation of the Mariana Islands garment industry (another Abramoff client), he may have violated the federal bribery statute.

In addition, Senator Burns may have used his position as a member of Congress to financially benefit Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Abramoff's tribal clients. By doing so, Burns may be depriving his constituents, the Senate, and the United States of his honest services in violation of 18 U.S.C. section 1341.

Then, there is the trip to the 2001 Super Bowl as reported in "Beyond DeLay":

Two of Sen. Burns’ key staff members, Appropriations Committee staffer, Ryan Thomas, and chief of staff, Will M. Brooke, flew to the 2001 Super Bowl on a corporate jet leased by Mr. Abramoff, accompanied by several staffers from House Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s office. These staffers also visited a SunCruz gambling ship, partly owned by Mr. Abramoff, during the same junket. At the end of 2003, Mr. Brooke left Sen. Burns’ office to work for Mr. Abramoff.

The Senate Gifts Rule restricts members and staff from accepting “gifts of personal hospitality” from registered lobbyists. Moreover, members and staff are only permitted to accept reimbursement for officially related travel. In addition, Senators are required to sign staff members’ forms, authorizing staff to accept reimbursement for travel. The Senate Select Committee on Ethics should investigate why no travel forms were filed and whether Senator Burns authorized staff members to take a trip clearly prohibited by Senate rules.

Conrad Burns is especially worthy of being named as one of the most corrupt members of Congress. If press reports are accurate, he may be the next member indicted. In any event, the Senator's unethical behavior definitely warrants an investigation by the United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics.

Rest assured, CREW will continue to monitor the case of Conrad Burns.