Ex-Interior Deputy(Steven Griles) a Target in Abramoff Probe

[RedEarth]

Federal prosecutors have notified a former deputy secretary of the interior, J. Steven Griles, that he is a target in the public corruption investigation of Jack Abramoff's lobbying activities, sources knowledgeable about the probe said.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that among the possible criminal charges being investigated is whether Griles made false statements to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 2005 about job discussions Abramoff initiated while Griles was deputy secretary. Griles's attorneys did not return calls seeking comment yesterday.

Justice Department prosecutors met with Griles on Friday to outline possible charges. The investigation has examined donations made by Abramoff's Indian tribal clients to an environmental advocacy group run by Italia Federici, who was involved with Griles socially, the sources said. Also under scrutiny are donations made to Federici's group by energy and mining companies, the sources said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901718.html?nav=rss_politics

[Faux pas]

1. Hunt 'em down, take 'em down and lock 'em up. Tired of the

bad guys getting away with EVERYTHING.

[nealmhughes]

2. The political appts. in the DOI need to be cut out root and branch.

They are nothing but corporate enablers, thwarting every effort of the career employees there.
It is an Ayn Rand reader's wet dream: a political appt. at DOI.
The public know little about how powerful the DOI is, it is the "ignored" agency, but this is not "benign neglect," rather rape of our public resources.

[Ian David]

3. Officials in the US Government lying to Native Americans. Wow.

Who could ever see THAT coming.

[Eugene]

4. Follow the money.

The Abramoff money trail leads to Fredici, Norquist, Griles,
and possibly Norton, Ralston, Mehlman, and Rove.

Let's see who gets nabbed.

[eppur_se_muova]

5. also Sue Ellen Wooldridge (CNN.com)

Also being investigated in relation to the grand jury probe is Sue Ellen Wooldridge, the assistant attorney general who oversees the Justice Department's environment and natural resources division, one of the sources said.

Wooldridge sent in a resignation letter this week. Before joining the Justice Department in November 2005, she was the Interior Department solicitor and was deputy chief of staff to Norton while Griles was at Interior.

Wooldridge would not comment publicly, the Justice Department's public affairs office said Wednesday. Instead, she was referring all questions to a spokeswoman, who was not immediately available for comment.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/10/abramoff.interior.ap/index.html

[AlCzervik]

6. i watched him testify at the indin affairs hearing, he looked like he was going to

either puke or stroke out. i've been following this abramoff thing for a couple of years and i highly reccoment the book "The Heist" by Peter Stone, it is the book on the Abramoff scandal.