Prosecutor uses lobbyist's e-mails against him

WASHINGTON – A prosecutor says he will use a lobbyist's own e-mails to convict him of bribing public officials.

Prosecutor Nathaniel Edmonds told jurors Thursday that lobbyist Kevin Ring showered officials with gifts to get action in favor of his clients instead of the public good.

The Justice Department is trying for a second time to convict Ring, a junior associate of corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The first jury couldn't agree on Ring's guilt after defense lawyers argued he was just doing his job.

During opening arguments in federal court in Washington, Edmonds showed e-mails in which Ring joked that congressional ethics were "a real turn off" and said an administration official should "pay us back" for owner's box seats at the NCAA tournament.