WASHINGTON – President Bush yesterday said “I don’t know” Jack Abramoff, but refused to release photos of himself with the corrupt lobbyist on grounds that they’d be used “for pure political purposes.”
The White House acknowledges there are several “grip-and-grin” pictures of Bush with Abramoff, some of them taken at holiday parties – and Bush yesterday said he took more than 9,000 holiday photos last December alone.
“It’s part of the job of the president to shake hands with people and smile. And I do,” Bush said, adding that doesn’t mean “I’m a friend.”
“I frankly don’t even remember having my picture taken with the guy. I don’t know him.”
Asked if he meets with lobbyists, Bush replied, “I try not to.”
He acknowledged that Abramoff donated to Bush campaigns but also “contributed to a lot of people in Washington.”