Petrelis Files

Cape Gazette: Abramoff Crony Scanlon Really Likes Male Lifeguards

Take a step back in time and refresh your memory about a Nov. 20 article in the New York Times about Michael Scanlon, corrupt power-broker and former aide to the scandal-ridden GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

You may recall that my gaydar registered many signals from Scanlon that he might be a friend of Dorothy's, and that the Times outrageously and flamboyantly drew a veil around his romantic entanglements.

Since then I've been alerted to a different, much more honest article on Scanlon's male friends in Rehoboth Beach, a known homosexual-friendly resort town that ran in the Cape Gazette. (Hat tip to reader RD.)

Unlike the Times, the Cape Gazette linked Scanlon's relationships with lifeguards, one of whom was ensnared in a Scanlon scam nonprofit and testified before Congress about the scam.

Oh, and the Cape Gazette provides delicious details about Scanlon's various forms of encouragement and support for male lifeguards.

This just goes to show you how a smaller publication than the Times dug just a little deeper on the possible gay angle to the Abramoff and Scanlon investigations and still unfolding scandals.

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11/22/05
Cape Gazette

Rehoboth Beach lifeguard
pleads guilty to conspiracy
By Kevin Spence

Sean Scanlon, a Rehoboth Beach lifeguard, pleaded guilty to federal charges that he conspired to defraud American Indian tribes of millions of dollars. He agreed to pay $19 million in restitution.

Better known in Washington, D.C. circles as Michael, Scanlon appeared Nov. 21 in federal court to answer a charge of criminal conspiracy in a deal that could make him a key player in a broadening U.S. Department of Justice investigation. [...]

While Scanlon was known as ruthless in Washington, he was also a generous friend to many Rehoboth Beach lifeguards.

He allowed friends and lifeguards to use his house in Dewey Beach and his vehicle. Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Kent Buckson said that in 2004, several guards were shuttled from Georgetown to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the U.S. Lifesaving Association National Championship aboard Scanlon’s private jet.

Lifeguard Tim Green, who competed in Daytona, confirmed he was on board Scanlon’s jet, but he declined to elaborate on his relationship with Scanlon. [...]

Despite his free-wheeling generosity, at least one associate who asked not to be named said by making a deal with prosecutors, Scanlon is turning on all his buddies, just like he used his lifeguards and all his childhood friends.

A friend of Scanlon, 1997 Rehoboth Beach Lifeguard of the Year David Grosh, said in Senate testimony that Scanlon offered him a job in the American International Center in Rehoboth Beach, billed as an international think tank. [...]

“I don’t want to talk about it,” said Grosh, in a telephone interview.[...]

Rehoboth Beach City Manager Greg Ferrese, who oversees 79 full-time city employees, including 200 over the summer, said Scanlon was a good lifeguard who was well liked by many.

“He was a lifeguard, on-and-off, for the past four years, more recently, as a part-timer. He was a good guard,” said Ferrese.[...]

Scanlon could not be reached for comment.[...]