Abramoff didn't work only with Republicans. He oversaw a team of two dozen lobbyists at the law firm Greenberg Traurig that included many Democrats. And the campaign contributions that he directed from the tribes went to congressional Democrats as well as Republicans.

Among the biggest beneficiaries were Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Harry Reid of Nevada, the top two Senate Democrats at the time; Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri, then-leader of House Democrats, and the two members in charge of raising funds for their Democratic colleagues in both chambers, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., according to a Washington Post study. Reid succeeded Daschle as Democratic leader after Daschle lost his seat in November.

Democrats are hoping to gain political advantage from federal and Senate investigations of Abramoff's activities and from his former ties to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Yet, many of them also benefited from Abramoff's political operation, a fact that could hinder their efforts to turn the lobbyist's troubles into a winning partisan issue.

"It wouldn't surprise me to see the Abramoff controversy impact both parties," said Tony Raymond, co-founder of PoliticalMoneyLine.com, which gathers lobbying and campaign-finance information.

...Most D.C. lobbying firms are bipartisan to give their clients access to key Congress members of both major parties, and Abramoff's group was no exception. Although he was recognized as a Republican lobbyist who was close to DeLay and other party leaders, Abramoff was careful to add at least two Democratic lobbyists to his group during his five years at Greenberg Traurig. By the end, seven of his lobbyists were Democrats. [Note: GT has 1,350 lawyers worldwide]

"Lobbying shops typically direct contributions to both parties because they want contacts on both sides of the aisle," said David Hart, a public policy professor at George Mason University. "Lawmakers in the minority can also have a lot of clout."

Because of the makeup of his team and the composition of Congress, the Abramoff lobbyists channeled most of their clients' giving to GOP legislators, according to a review of public records.