Nominee Is Linked to Controversy

Timothy E. Flanigan, 52, chief counsel of Tyco International Ltd. since 2002, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week and acknowledged supervising Abramoff's work for the Bermuda-based firm. However, he declined to answer questions describing what the lobbyist did for the company.

Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) said Thursday that he was not satisfied with Flanigan's response, and said he would submit written questions seeking more details.

At the heart of Abramoff's work for Tyco was an intensive effort to block the Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act and similar bills designed to penalize American firms that incorporated outside the U.S. to avoid taxes, according to records and sources familiar with the lobbying campaign.

One person with direct knowledge of Abramoff's lobbying efforts called it "a full-court press." And congressional aides credited Abramoff's intense lobbying with helping to keep the legislation from reaching the House floor for an up-or-down vote.

"They called in the big guns," said one of the aides, who agreed to discuss Abramoff's role on condition of anonymity.

Lobbying reports filed by Abramoff and his law firm at the time, Greenberg Traurig, showed they were paid more than $1.7 million in 2003 and 2004 by Tyco.

Abramoff left the law firm under fire in early March 2004. He is the subject of investigations by a federal grand jury and a Senate committee over allegations that he bilked Indian tribes out of millions of dollars. Questions also have arisen over Abramoff's role in arranging foreign trips for congressional leaders, including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas).

Flanigan did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Abramoff and a spokesman for Greenberg Traurig also declined to be interviewed.

In a brief statement, Tyco Vice President David Polk said that Abramoff "was engaged to provide certain legal services on matters relating to Tyco's business." He would not elaborate.

Flanigan was White House deputy counsel under Alberto R. Gonzales, now attorney general, before joining Tyco in November 2002.