Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid wrote at least four letters helpful to Indian tribrepresented by Jack Abramoff, and the senator's stregularly had contact with the disgraced lobbyist's team about legislation affecting other clients.

The activities -- detailed in billing records and correspondence obtained by The Associated Press -are more extensive than previously disclosed. Theyoccurred over three years as Reid collected nearly $68,000 in donations from Abramoff's firm, lobbyinpartners and clients.

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Following a pattern seen with Abramoff and Republicans, Abramoff's Democratic team members often delivered donations to Reid close to key events. Reid himself, with his Senate counsel, Jim Ryan, met with Abramoff deputy Ronald Platt on June 5, 2001, "to discuss timing on minimum wage bill" that affected the Marianas, according to a bill that Greenberg Traurig, Abramoff's firm, sent the Marianas.

Three weeks before the meeting, Greenberg Traurig's political action committee donated $1,000 to Reid's Senate re-election committee. Three weeks after the meeting, Platt himself donated $1,000 to Reid.

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One of the Marianas contacts, listed for May 30, 2001, was with Edward Ayoob, Reid's legislative counsel. Within a year, Ayoob had left Reid's office to work for Abramoff's firm. He registered to lobby for the islands and several tribes. Manley confirmed Ayoob had subsequent lobbying contacts with Reid's office.

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Two months later, Abramoff's firm threw a fundraiser for Reid at its Washington office that netted the Nevada senator several more donations from Greenberg Traurig lobbyists and their spouses. Ayoob was instrumental in staging the event, Reid's office said.