The investigation of Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Republican lobbyist, took a surprising new turn on Thursday when the Justice Department said the chief prosecutor in the inquiry would step down next week because he had been nominated to a federal judgeship by President Bush.

Earlier this year, J. Steven Griles, the former deputy interior secretary, pleaded guilty to lying to a Senate committee about his dealings with Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who is now in prison.

The defeat, according to exit polls, could be attributed in large measure to Mr. Burns's ties to Jack Abramoff, the disgraced former lobbyist who gave about $150,000 in various contributions to Mr. Burns.

The topics included the Hamas landslide in the Palestinian elections; photographs of Mr. Bush with Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Republican lobbyist; and the Congressional investigation into the administration's response to Hurricane Katrina.

The push toward lobbying law changes has grown out of a scandal involving Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist, who pleaded guilty to corruption charges and is cooperating with federal prosecutors in a widening investigation.

On Monday, the Democratic leader, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, tried to tar the companies supporting the legislation and their lobbyists by invoking the specter of Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who pleaded guilty last month to criminal corruption charges.

Senate Democrats pressed Friday for more answers from President Bush's nominee for deputy attorney general about his relationship with Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist, but the White House strongly defended its nominee.

Greenberg Traurig was a politically well-connected law firm long before Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion, joined it about six years ago.

The second-highest official at the Interior Department during President Bush's first term, J. Steven Griles, pleaded guilty on Friday to lying before a Senate committee about his ties to Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who is now in prison.

On Monday, White House officials acknowledged that, yes, photographs did exist of President Bush in a classic grip-and-grin with Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Republican lobbyist at the center of a bribery and corruption scandal in the capital.