Eshkol Academy
Eshkol Academy, under the guise of a finishing school, was another way for Jack Abramoff to channel money for his illicit activities.
Eshkol Academy, an all boys, Orthodox Jewish junior-senior high school, in Columbia, Maryland, opened its doors to students in fall of 2002. The school was plagued by various troubles since its opening, from poor facilities to high turnover in the administrative positions. The school aimed to set itself apart from other orthodox yeshivas by putting an emphasis on sports. Abramoff's two sons were educated at Eshkol before it closed its doors in 2004 when his legal and financial troubles became public. It closed just two months before graduation and is being sued by teachers for over $140,000 in back pay.
The lion's share of Eshkol's funding came from Abramoff's tribal clients via the Capital Athletic Foundation, which provided the school $4.03 million over the course of its existence. That amount represented the majority of CAF's capital intake over that period. In 2001 the only benefit Eshkol received from CAF was $50,510 to create a web presence. In 2002, on the strength of a $1.85 million donation from CAF, Eshkol leased office space, hired teachers and a Dean, and accepted students. The tuition was as much as $12,000. In 2003, CAF upped its largesse, giving Eshkol $2.13 million.
Key Points:
Abramoff described the school as a conduit and front group.
In a 2003 email instructing Scanlon to ask the Coushattas to give $1 million directly to Eshkol, Abramoff referred to the academy as "a conduit for some of activities [sic]." In an email the next month he referred to Eshkol as a "front group."
Abramoff used Eshkol to bilk Tribal clients.
Jack offered the financially-strapped Tigua tribe a way to keep him on retainer without paying him cash up front. He suggested that Eshkol buy term life insurance policies on Tribal elders over 75, which would pay out Eshkol upon their deaths. The tribe rejected the suggestion.
David Lapin served as Dean.
Rabbi David Lapin, who earned $1.2 million in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands through his Abramoff connection, was described as an "absentee" dean by a teacher at the school.
David Safavian was indicted for lying about work he did for Eshkol.
Safavian helped Abramoff procure federal land in White Oak, MD, for the Academy and then lied to GSA ethics investigators, denying that Abramoff had any business with the GSA when Safavian went with Abramoff on a golf trip to Scotland in 2002.
Research by Ryan Chiachiere
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