VIA FACSIMILE (512) 637-8800
AND FIRST CLASS MAIL
U R G E N T

October 27, 2000

The Honorable George W. Bush
Bush Cheney Campaign
Post Office Box 1902
Austin, Texas 78767-1902

Re: Entergy Corporation and The Allbaughs.

Dear Governor Bush:

It has been reported by The Washington Post in a column by Judy Sarasohn on Thursday, October 19, 2000 (enclosed), that the wife of your campaign manager, Joseph Allbaugh, has been retained as a lobbyist for Entergy Corporation. Specifically, The Washington Post reported:

SPECIAL INTERESTS

By Judy Sarasohn
Thursday, October 19, 2000; Page A29

Texas Gov. George W. Bush may bash Washington ways as he campaigns for president, but the wife of his campaign manager apparently is comfortable enough working Capitol Hill and the regulatory agencies.

M. Diane Allbaugh, wife of Joe Allbaugh, the Republican's campaign manager, registered with the Senate last month to lobby on behalf of three major Texas-based utilities. She listed 'general legislative and regulatory matters involving utility and energy issues.'

Four years ago, Bush established new rules to curb lobbying by former staffers after reports were published about three top aides quitting to become lobbyists and about Diane Allbaugh's hiring by utility interests. Allbaugh, a lawyer whose husband was then the governor's executive assistant, quit as a lobbyist, denying any impropriety but telling Bush in a letter at the time that she wanted 'to remove any possibility of further questions regarding the perception of a conflict.'

She did not return telephone calls for comment. But Reggie Bashur, an Austin consultant speaking on her behalf - and one of the three former Bush aides who quit to become a lobbyist - said, 'She has the highest ethical standards in her practice. It is those standards she uses today and will use tomorrow.'

When asked what she would do about lobbying if Bush should win the presidential election, Bashur said, 'What tomorrow brings is speculation.'

He said most of her practice is at the state level and her work includes corporate, policy and 'some government relations.'

The clients she registered to lobby for were Entergy Corp., Reliant Energy Inc. and TXU.

. . . In case your campaign manager and Ms. Allbaugh are not aware of Entergy Corporation's alleged involvement in campaign fundraising abuses, this letter should serve as notice to you and the Allbaughs.

First, Entergy Corporation was a participant on Clinton-Gore Commerce Department trade missions, including one to China, wherein for large campaign contributions to the Clinton-Gore campaign and/or the Democratic Party, companies were taken on these trips with the intent and effect of the U.S. government doing business for them at taxpayer expense. This is improper, and Entergy Corporation is currently under investigation by Judicial Watch and others.

Second, Entergy Corporation has previously attempted to do business with the Lippo Group whose principals are Mochtar and James Riady. It is known that the Lippo Group is a front for Chinese intelligence. This can be confirmed in Senator Thompson's Senate Governmental Affairs Report on the Chinagate scandal.

While Judicial Watch has differed with your campaign's lack of discussion of ethical issues, including but not limited to what occurred during the Chinagate scandal (which involved large corporate donors from both major political parties), we would hope that you would conduct a thorough inquiry of the Allbaughs' involvement, if any, with the Entergy Corporation. Given a previously reported incident of a lobbyist on your campaign having secretly represented Microsoft, while at the same time allegedly advising you about the company's federal antitrust suit, there may be a pattern emerging of insensitivity against potential and actual conflicts of interest.

Accordingly, please advise Judicial Watch immediately whether the report by Judy Sarasohn in The Washington Post is true and what action, if any, you intend to take.

Sincerely,

JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.

Larry Klayman, Esq.
Chairman and General Counsel

Thomas Fitton
President

Paul J. Orfanedes, Esq.
Secretary

Enclosure