« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Public Corruption and Matters of the Heart
Boy, where Steven Griles' heart leads, trouble follows.
Here's a copy of the criminal information filed by prosecutors this morning; it lays out the facts to which Griles pled guilty this morning.
The filing reveals that Griles was romantically involved with Italia Federici (identified as Person A) from 1998 through 2003, and that it was that relationship which led to Jack Abramoff's access to Griles while he was deputy secretary of the Interior. It also says that Griles lied to the committee to cover all that up.
Here's how it worked. Federici runs a nonprofit called Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA), a conservative think tank. Since Federici was a former aide to then-Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and was well connected in the Interior Department, Abramoff found her very useful. His clients pumped $500,00 into her organization; in return, she ensured that people inside the department knew about his clients' concerns. The person inside who was particularly helpful was Griles, the #2 there.
But Griles didn't want the Senate to know any of this. So he lied.
This isn't the only time, of course, that investigators haven't been told the truth about Griles' dalliances. Griles and his current girlfriend, Sue Ellen Wooldridge, successfully kept their relationship from the department's Inspector General when he was investigating Griles for lobbying for his old clients on the inside -- at the time, Woolrdige, then Norton's deputy chief of staff, had been charged with watching over Griles. But she didn't tell the IG about the relationship.
Griles and Woolridge hit the papers last month because the pair bought a vacation home with an oil lobbyist -- even though Woolridge at the time worked as the Justice Department's top environmental prosecutor.
Update: So here are the terms of the plea, just out from the Justice Department: Griles faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He's pled guilty to obstruction of justice.
The AP has reported that "federal prosecutors will seek no more than a 10-month prison sentence for Griles - the minimum they could seek under sentencing guidelines - but they will agree to let him serve half that in home confinement."
Update: Here's the "factual basis" for Griles' plea, a document that goes into more detail about the case.













Wooldridge isn't at DOJ any longer. She left a few weeks ago in what I'm suer was a complete coincidence
March 23, 2007 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks. Fixed.
March 23, 2007 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
For the longest time and still today, what I'm not clear on is how (initially) Federici met Abramoff.
Was it through Grover Norquist, whose home Federici initially used as her mailing address for CREA?
Or was it through some other source?
And wow, she must have been jilted or stone cold because she made quick use of her connections to Griles to sweep in money.
March 23, 2007 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
How did Gale Norton receive a 'Get Out Of Jail Free' card?
March 23, 2007 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
The DOJ thinks this was unUSUAL behavior in Mr. Bush's Washington? How quaint. Follow the money.
March 23, 2007 1:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, these prosecutor's certainly earned their spots on the "You're not fired" list. They had this guy by the short hairs, and that's all they're getting? This stinks to high heaven.
March 23, 2007 1:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Gonzales Department of Justice let another "Bushie" off easy.
See the details at http://www.theleftcoaster.com/
"Bush Tries To Shut Down Damage From Abramoff"
March 23, 2007 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
But who else besides Jack Abramoff was paying off Italia Federici and why?
I reviewed the 990s filed by the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA) at the TPM Cafe. CREA appears to have had only two employees, Italia Federici and R. Jared Carpenter, a former clerk for the House Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relation.
CREA's 990s are either incomplete or falsified. No payroll tax expense was reported on salary expense of $179k and $144k in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
CREA reported health insurance expense of $2,982, $640 and $0 in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Who was paying health insurance for Federici and Carpenter in those years?
Combined salary expense for Federici and Carpenter was $179k, $144K and $47k in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Federici's salary dropped from $93k in 2003 to $73k in 2004 to $10k in 2005.
Federici was hotwired into the DOI in those years and it is highly unlikely she earned less money as time went by. Who was paying Federici's bills when she testified before McCain's committee in November 2005?
CREA's 2003 990 was amended and filed in March 2005. Was it amended so as to make it appear that CREA was solely funded by Abramoff's Indian clients?
Italia Federici was very close to Gale Norton. Federici is a 1996 graduate of a Colorado school for Republicans, Leadership Progam of the Rockies. of which Norton is a 1989 grad.
In April 2006, someone blocked access to the Coalition of Republican Environmental Advocates website in the internet archives. The Coalition is the predecessor of CREA.
The federal government has been footing Norton's legal bills from well-known attorney, Herb Fenster. Fenster was counsel to the Coalition of Republican Environmental Advocates and the Republican Patrons of the Arts, another faux GOP grassroots organization headed by Federici and linked to Norton.
R. Jared Carpenter filed IRS forms for an entity named the Council For Republican Environmental Advocacy, EIN 52-2166366, which is very similar to the Council of Republicans For Environmental Advocacy, EIN 52-2265595.
The Council For Republican Environmental Advocacy is a 527 organization which also operated under a different name, Renew Our Urban Centers Fund. Carpenter continues to file Form 8872 with the IRS for Renew Our Urban Centers Fund but has never accounted for $99k in contributions from October 2000.
Federici and CREA were involved in a joint project with the Teamsters in 2004, the Labor Environment Alliance (LEA). In one of Federici's emails to Abramoff, she hits him up for money because she doesn't want to stiff Teamster vendors. That is ridiculous because CREA would not have been paying Teamster vendors directly. But who did fund LEA?
Federici and Carpenter attended a UN conference in Milan on climate change. Federici lunched with the DOE chief of staff. Federici and Carpenter attended a White House-sponsored conference on conservation in St. Louis.
Who else was financing Italia Federici to gain influence at the Department of the Interior?
March 23, 2007 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who are these Federal Prosecutors? In exchange for Giles' laughably light sentence, he is not required to cooperate with the investigators? Are these prosecutor's on the Bush-Gonzalez "loyal" list?
March 23, 2007 1:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mrs Panstreppon, you are amazing! I watched Italia in those hearings and wondered whoever heard of a Republican environmental group?
March 23, 2007 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
question 1: was italia federici, the conduit between abramoff and griles and a former girlfriend of griles, ever charged with anything?
question 2: will wooldridge be charged in the conoco-philips thing yet? she allowed a delay in conoco's cleaning up some toxic dumpsites and delaying a hefty fine, both by 2 or 3 years.
she had been a special assistant to gale norton at dept of interior and then went to doj as special counsel for environmental affairs. she bought a house with a $1million house with don duncan, conoco lobbyist, and griles, formerly at interior and more recently an energy industry lobbyist, about the time of her actions in favor of conoco.
turns out that griles and duncan worked on shrub's transition team. griles also served on cheney-the-dick's energy task force.
what a crew!
March 23, 2007 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, wait a sec. Steve Griles and Italia Federici began dating in 1998. Did Italia Federici use her influence with Gale Norton to get the Loathsome Lothario appointed Deputy Secretary of the Interior?
I'd say Italia Federici had more influence with Gale Norton than has been disclosed to date.
Griles is a piece of work. Apparently he dumped Irene N. Richwine, a senior director at CACI, to take up with Federici.
How did Griles know in 1998 what Fedreici could do for his career?
March 23, 2007 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://polihack.com/2007/03/23/0088.php
Bush DOI Official Pleads Guilty for Lying to Congress
Steven J. Griles, a former Department of Interior official in President George W. Bush’s administration, becomes the ninth and highest-level to be convicted. His guilty plea, however, has nothing to do with corruption, in fact, Griles does not admit to aiding convicted lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, and does not have to cooperate in the public corruption case.
Under the plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed to propose no more than a 10-month prison sentence for Griles — the minimum they could ask for under sentencing guidelines — that would allow him to serve half that time in prison and half either in a halfway house or under house arrest. The maximum sentence he could face is five years and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for June 26.
Griles, an oil and gas lobbyist who became an architect of President Bush’s energy policies, acknowledged concealing that his relationship with Abramoff had been unique — because of their introduction through Griles’ then-girlfriend, Italia Federici.
Yet, the Department of Justice cheers as if this plea deal was a win for public corruption foes.
Prosecutors dropped earlier allegations that Griles did anything improper to help Abramoff or had gained anything of value from the former Republican lobbyist. The agreement does not require Griles to help investigators with their grand jury probe.
Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher said the case — the ninth conviction in the Abramoff investigation — shows the Justice Department is willing to go after “public corruption at all levels of government.” [emphasis added]
Griles’ plea deal was on his false statements to Congress and had nothing to do with public corruption. The government dropped those charges. In fact, Griles’ deal does not require him to cooperate in the corruption probe, which is startling given that he lied to Congress about his connections to Abramoff for a reason.
It is laughable that the assistant attorney general would say that this is proof the Department of Justice is serious about public corruption. On the contrary, with the possibility of the Justice Department interfering in some half-dozen corruption cases, Fisher may be quick to defend the department without actually reading the plea deal.
March 23, 2007 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Um, is that woman's name: Wooldridge , Woolrdige , or Woolridge ? The second's clearly a typo, but "d" or no "d" ?? Each time you typed in her name above, you changed the spelling!
March 23, 2007 2:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Her name can be seen on the assend of Conoco fat ass tanker. Or is that condi's?
March 23, 2007 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
more on Sampson from Wampum with relation to oil and gas rights on tribal lands (involves Domenichi and Hatch):
http://wampum.wabanaki.net/vault/2007/03/003518.html
this is from kirk murphy, comment 92/4:10 on firedoglake -
http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/03/23/abramoff-bodies-being-rapidly-buried/#comment-580413
ties grimes, sampson, hatch and domenichi... scary stuff.
March 23, 2007 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who are the prosecutors? "loyal bushies"?
Prosecutors dropped earlier allegations that Griles did anything improper to help Abramoff or gained anything of value from the former Republican lobbyist, the AP was told. The agreement does not require Griles to help investigators with their grand jury probe.
In exchange for the plea, federal prosecutors will seek no more than a 10-month prison sentence for Griles - the minimum they could seek under sentencing guidelines - but they will agree to let him serve half that in home confinement, according to one person involved in the case.
March 24, 2007 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
.http://www.indianz.com/News/2007/002170.asp
Editorial: Griles deserves tougher prison sentence
Monday, April 2, 2007
"What with all the news about the politically tainted firings of several federal prosecutors - apparently for refusing to subject justice to the White House's political agenda - it's good to know the Justice Department's prosecution of Washington's lobbying scandal is alive and ongoing.
J. Stephen Griles, who served as deputy secretary of the Interior Department under Gale Norton during President Bush's first term, pleaded guilty a week ago to lying to a Senate committee about his ties to Jack Abramoff, the one-time prominent lobbyist and central figure in an influence-peddling scandal.
In November 2005, he lied to a Senate Indian Affairs subcommittee, saying he'd never had a unique or special relationship with Mr. Abramoff. Actually, Mr. Griles' girlfriend, Italia Federici, the head of a conservative environmental group that received $500,000 from Mr. Abramoff and his clients, had introduced Messrs Griles and Abramoff. She also acted as a frequent go-between.
Mr. Griles, who faces five years in prison, is due for sentencing June 26. Prosecutors are recommending a five-month jail term and another five months in a halfway house or home confinement.
April 3, 2007 12:12 AM | Reply | Permalink
we need someone who is willing to be naked and honest with us for once. A mother who will love us no matter what, a father who you trust.
trodlodytes thought we could love and trust because yes, we were naked and honest, how else to live?
500 years later, naked Greed exposed it, not the caring gov't or public, especially not the media.
that's got to change.
April 3, 2007 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
hello
April 30, 2007 10:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
hello
May 1, 2007 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
hello
May 1, 2007 11:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
hello
May 5, 2007 9:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
hello
May 6, 2007 10:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi!
May 11, 2007 2:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hello
May 11, 2007 2:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Very nice site!
May 13, 2007 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://11.xxxsexygirl24h.info x
May 23, 2007 9:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://11.xxxsexygirl24h.info x
May 23, 2007 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://11.xxxsexygirl24h.info x
May 23, 2007 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexinbed.info x
May 25, 2007 4:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexinbed.info x
May 25, 2007 4:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://2.zpornstars.info x
May 27, 2007 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://2.zpornstars.info x
May 27, 2007 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://2.zpornstars.info x
May 27, 2007 1:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://1.sexybiqini.info x
May 27, 2007 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://1.sexybiqini.info x
May 27, 2007 5:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://20.sexxywomen.info x
May 28, 2007 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://2.pornxaladult.info x
May 29, 2007 5:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://2.pornxaladult.info x
May 29, 2007 5:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://3.epornreview.info x
May 31, 2007 3:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://3.epornreview.info x
May 31, 2007 3:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://3.epornreview.info x
May 31, 2007 3:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://3.filmsexs.info x
May 31, 2007 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://3.filmsexs.info x
May 31, 2007 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://3.filmsexs.info x
May 31, 2007 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://4.freesexxnet.info x
June 1, 2007 7:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://4.freesexxnet.info x
June 1, 2007 7:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://4.freesexxnet.info x
June 1, 2007 7:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://3freesex.com x
June 2, 2007 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
AUTHOR: Nbkvqhy
EMAIL: Nbkvqrqwnx@gmail.com
IP: 69.0.37.85
URL:
DATE: 06/02/2007 09:35:37 PM
June 2, 2007 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
AUTHOR: Nbkvqhy
EMAIL: Nbkvqrqwnx@gmail.com
IP: 68.189.233.187
URL:
DATE: 06/02/2007 09:35:45 PM
June 2, 2007 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
AUTHOR: Nbkvqhy
EMAIL: Nbkvqrqwnx@gmail.com
IP: 69.0.37.85
URL:
DATE: 06/02/2007 09:35:50 PM
June 2, 2007 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://messexxx.info x
June 2, 2007 9:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexxarab.info x
June 2, 2007 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexxarab.info x
June 2, 2007 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexxarab.info x
June 2, 2007 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexxearch.info x
June 3, 2007 8:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexxearch.info x
June 3, 2007 8:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexxearch.info x
June 3, 2007 8:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
italia federici is a con artist, extortionist and luckily will be exiled from washington politics forever...where will she go.......perhaps back to where she came from.......anybody track her life.....now there is a story!!!........for goodness sakes, i mean, would you have someone like jared carpenter handling your books.....an ex-lover...NEVER!......the guy has done nothing in his washington life since he teamed up with italia but play house/carpenter boy!.......
she, nor crea, or jared were never activists for the environment.......it was and is a scam!!!!...........but i am sure she is not the only one in non-profits that draw the majority of your income from an ATM.....she just got caught!!!....the only 'activity' they pursued as 'environmental' activists seems like crawling into and now out from under were some very 'smelly sheets' .....(paper or whatever!!) do your homework people.......the girl (sorry i can't say lady) has been around and looks like it! and you will find they are definitely not alone at 'the top' of all this!!....i project gail has something to do with this......i mean griles was her right hand man......but looks like he used all hands and fingers with the indians....there time has come to roost.....i am rooting for the criminal justice department to send them to the slammer for a long angle of reposed slime............
June 10, 2007 8:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexpartytv.info x
June 16, 2007 3:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexpartytv.info x
June 16, 2007 3:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://sexpartytv.info x
June 16, 2007 3:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://9.bestxsexybabes.info x
June 16, 2007 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://9.bestxsexybabes.info x
June 16, 2007 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
http://xxxsexfuckgirl.info x
June 18, 2007 4:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, nice page.!
look on my pages:
associate inc international profit
ok.. bitte
September 28, 2007 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, nice page.!
look on my pages:
associate inc international profit
ok.. bitte
September 28, 2007 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, nice page.!
look on my pages:
associate inc international profit
ok.. bitte
September 28, 2007 7:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, nice page.!
look on my pages:
aal associate international profit
ok.. bitte
September 29, 2007 7:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, nice page.!
look on my pages:
dedicated organization policy profit public
ok.. bitte
October 1, 2007 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hi, nice page.!
look on my pages:
dedicated organization policy profit public
ok.. bitte
October 1, 2007 11:56 PM | Reply | Permalink