U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional institution 14601 Burbridge Road, S.E. Cumberand, MD 21502-8724 July 11, 2008 — 6), 601 West 26" Street, Suite 1762 New York, NY 10001 Re: Abramoff, Jack Register No. 27593-112 Deaf ‘| This letter is in response to your correspondence dated June 30, 2008, requesting 2 videotape interview, as @ producer of documentary films, with Jack Abramoff, a federal inmate currently assigned to the Federal Prison Camp, Cumberland, Maryland. (16), KE Enclosures (1) Fale py(501 West 26 Stee Suate 1762 Now York, NY 1000 12123523010 212.352.3020 ea igsaurprds cone JIGSAW PRODUCTIONS June 30, 2008 Mr. J.D. Whitehead | Warden FCI Cumberland 14601 Burbridge Road SE ‘Cumberland, MD 21502 Dear Mr. Whitehead: Jack Lam writing to request permission to shoot a videotaped interview ‘Abramoff, inmate #27593-112. [ working on “a RBI TaTeTeST CocuMMeTTATY ABOU TOBHY ng and The Tole That money plays in American democracy, Since Mr. Abramoff has pled guilty to a number of crimes for which he is currently serving time at Cumberland, I believe that he bas unique insights into some of the ways thet aggressive and illegal lobbying Practices can damage our democratic system. Given his remorse for his misdeeds and the fact that he is cooperating with the Department of Justice, Mr. Abramoff has the potentiat to shed light on some of the ways that our elected government officials can be manipulated in ways that can run counter to the public interest My questions will be limited to matters that have already been publicly disclosed in Mr. Abramoff"s plea agreements and to general discussions of Mr. Abramoff’s understanding of the inner workings of Washington politics and lobbying, as well as questions about Mr. Abramoff's personal history. 1 | am enclosing a parta! list of sample questions for your perusal. Please let me know if I can give you any additional information, Many thanks for your consideration of this matter. (06), yer1C) Higsaw Pragetions!) How would you define the role of a lobbyist? 2) Do lobbyists help to raise campaign funds for congressmen. Senators and presidential candidates? How? Does money play a big role in the political process? 3) Would you say that the pressures to raise enormous amounts of campaign funds create legal and sometimes illegal “opportunities” for lobbyists to influence legislators? 4) Can you explain how leadership PACs work? If'a lobbyist persuaded his/her clients to send campaign contributions to a representative at the behest of another representative how does the first representative take the credit? '5) What are some of the other key facets of lobbying ~ from the standpoint of the lobbyists and the members - that American citizens should keep in mind when considering how things work in Washington? Examples? 5) Many people talk about the “problem” of lobbyists. But aren't members a key part of the problem? Examples? 7) In your experience have other lobbyists been successful at using trips and small favors and campaign contributions to influence legislation? 8) Could you talk about how vociferously lobbyists work on behalf of their clients? Examples, 9) In working for their clients, do some lobbyists also have a Political/ideological agenda — ie: funding key elements of the Republican Party? 10) Are a lobbyist’s relationships with key DC figures important to a lobbying practice? 11) Can you give examples of ways in which the relationship between lobbyists and elected officials may lead to corruption? 11) Even in presidential campaigns, do candidates have a tendency to bend to the will of lobbyists? 12) Can you give me some background on how you became interested in the political process? 13) What are some of the biggest lessons that you have learned?eee © @ NEWS INTERVIEW AUTHORIZATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS ate July 2, 2008 Inmate's name and number (print) Abramoff, Jack Rea. No, 27593-2112 Name of Institution_FCZ and 21501 Name of news media representative yey, WHC) Name of media represented Jigsaw Productions Address of media represented_601 West 26° street New york, NY 10003 I, the above-named inmate, do hereby freely give permission to the above- named news media representative to interview me on or about and I do hereby authorize the news media represented by this person to use any information gathered about me during this interview for any legitimate purpose. I further authorize the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice, and their authorized representatives, to release to representatives of the news media any documents or information relating to allegations or comments made by me in this interview. pe: unknown (YO), HIDE I, the above-named inmate, refuse permission to the above-named news media os tative ta interieu om (6x6). eve nC) i, the above-named inmate, do further freely give permission to the above- famed news media representative to make recordings of my voice during this interview and to take photos of me (still, movie, or video) and I do hereby authorize the use of such pictures or recordings by the news media represented by this esitimate nurnose (oo. exe “Fecord Copy ~ insate's File; Copy ~ Nedla Representative CIhis form say be replicated via WP) This form replaces SP235(16) dated July 1979.25/22/2009 18:24 i 601 Wat 26:8 Sit Suite 782 New na. ron | #212.3525010 | f2n2sseseia | wuroyigheupredscon = ig stese ong PASE 02/03 TI1GSAW PRODUCTIONS May 22, 2009 Mr, Dwayne Hendricks FCI Cumberland Cumberland, MD BY FAX: 301-784-1004 Dear Mr. Hendricks: Thope that you received the FAX from HDNet (copy attached) confirming ‘that Tam under contract to HDNet’s “World Report” and, in that regard, ‘wish to conduct an interview with Jack Abramoff at FC] Cumberland. ‘Can you give me an update about the status of my request? I would very ‘uch like to do this as soon as possible, (ox, yc)SJTGSAW PROBL ONS Pace 03/03 HDNet 95/22/2803 15:26 a12yese20 May 12, 2009 Me. Dwayne Hendeicks FCI Cumberland Cembetland, Mazylsad BY FAX: Gon) 784-1004 Dest Me, Hendricks, 1 write in reference tox), 76) hee ‘Productions, and his request ‘interview inmate Jdex apramort Pete allow dis leer so contin th, 170s under contact with HDNet wo conduct this interview foe our prograst Ward Ror, Feel free to call me if there i any more information I ean provide. Thack you veey ouch, (oH, e710 ~ HDNet News and Deaumentaries (3) 542.5608 (305) 887-4284 € G03) 484.779 a 8269 Bast 23rd Avenue Denver CO g0238 303-542-5600601 West 26th Steet, Suite 1762 New York, NY 10005, £212.352.3010 £212,352.3020 wu igure cnr JB (C6 Awe PRO Du a oenes April 27, 2009 Mr. J.D. Whitehead Warden g 9008s FCI Cumberland Warder's O80 14601 Burbridge Road SE Cumberland, MD 21502 Dear Mr. Whitehead 1 am writing to request permission to videotape an interview with Jack Abramoff (inmate #27593-112), for a news documentary f am directing and producing under the aegis of HDNet’s “World Report, Tam an Emmy and Oscar-winning producer/ditector of documentari For your information, World Report is an award-winning hour-long newsmagazine that airs weekly on HDNet on Tuesday nights. ‘The rogram covers stories of national and international import, in depth. Owned by Mark Cuban, HDNet is a prominent HD network seen in approximately 8 million homes on Direct TV, Dish, Time Wamer Cable, and numerous other cable providers. HDNet World Report, along with HDNet's Dan Rather Reports, are the only news programs shot and aired exclusively in High-Definition. For additional information about HDNet’s World Report, you may wish to contact Dennis O'Brien, Executive Producer, News and Documentaries, HDNet, 8269 East 23rd Avenue, Denver CO 80238. The subject of the documentary is lobbying and campaign finance. This is a particularly newsworthy topic since there has been so much discussion recently about the way that lobbyists for the financial industry may have helped to undermine regulations that might have prevented the recent global economic crisis. Mr. Abramoff has unique insights into some of the ways that aggressive and illegal lobbying can damage our democratic system. Since Mr. Abramoff has pled guilty to crimes and has been sentenced for those crimes, he is in a good position to show remorse and to shed light on some of the ways that our elected government officials can be manipulated in ways that run counter to the public interest. My questions will be