Second Abramoff plea deal is near

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors have all but finalized a plea agreement with a second partner of former lobbyist Jack Abramoff in exchange for cooperation in the investigations of Abramoff, congressional aides and Rep. Robert Ney, R-Ohio, lawyers said Thursday.

Adam Kidan, a longtime Abramoff confidant, has agreed to testify against Abramoff in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., next month in connection with their purchase of a fleet of Florida casino boats.

A Kidan plea would tie Abramoff's legal troubles in Florida more closely to the investigation into his Capitol Hill lobbying practices, pressuring Abramoff to reach a deal of his own that could implicate members of Congress and other government officials, lawyers involved in the case said.

Another Abramoff partner — Michael Scanlon — reached a plea deal earlier in Washington, D.C., and agreed to cooperate in the bribery probe.

Kidan has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud in the purchase of the SunCruz fleet in 2000, said Joseph Conway, an attorney for Kidan.

Prosecutors have told Ney they are preparing a possible bribery indictment against him. Ney has said he was defrauded by Abramoff and Scanlon.

Primary changes eyed by Dems

Democrats considering changes in the presidential-primary calendar were sent a draft proposal Thursday that would place one or two caucuses after Iowa and before New Hampshire's leadoff primary.

After New Hampshire, one or two primaries would be scheduled before the calendar is opened to other states, according to several commissioners who have seen the proposal. New Hampshire Democrats promised to fight such a plan.

The additional caucuses and primaries are intended to include states with more diverse ethnic populations early in the voting. Iowa and New Hampshire are predominantly white. The recommendations will be considered Saturday by a Democratic National Committee panel.

House bill fines for pointing lasers

People who aim laser pointers at planes could face fines of to $250,000 and five years in prison under a bill passed Thursday by the House.

Rep. Ric Keller, R-Fla., said it was only a matter of time before someone "ends up killing over 200 people in a commercial-airline crash."

Lasers can disorient or temporarily blind pilots during takeoff and landing and can cause permanent damage.

Also

Rep. Robert Menendez late Thursday formally accepted New Jersey Gov.-elect Jon Corzine's offer to serve out the remaining year on his Senate term, Democratic congressional sources said.

Compiled from The Washington Post and The Associated Press