Comments (26)

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on June 19, 2007 10:04 AM:

"Griles, 59, wants three months home confinement, 500 hours of community service and a "reasonable" $15,000 fine when he is sentenced June 26."

Why should the court care what Griles wants? Griles, the second highest ranking official at the Department of the Interior, is guilty of betraying the public's trust. If he doesn't get jail time, what kind of message is that sending to other crooked politicians?

Griles is not even cooperating with the DOJ.

Griles is a rich man and $15k is nothing.

According to POGO, half the community service would be with "WOW - Wonderful Outdoor World," in the position of national counselor and strategic planning coordinator. In that post, Griles would raise money, develop new public and private partnerships and conduct outreach to the government and media.

Here in NY, community service can mean cleaning the locker room and toilets at the YMCA. That sounds a bit more in line with what Griles deserves.

Griles wants to perform half of his community service with "Operation Coaches and Warriors, which supposedly assists injured veterans of the Iraq war. Anyone ever hear of this organization?

Operation Coaches and Warriors is not registered with the IRS as a charity nor are the 990s available at the Foundation Center. I can't find a corporate registration for Operations Coaches and Warriors. A Google search turns up nothing.

Somebody should check out Operation Coaches and Warriors to see when it was founded and who is behind it. If Griles is insulting the court, he should get double or, better yet, triple jail time.

Italia Federici won't be sentenced until November. I am keeping my fingers crossed that she can nail Griles for a lot more than making kissy-face with Abramoff. Then maybe Griles will get the sentence he deserved in the first place.

Doug wrote on June 19, 2007 10:26 AM:

"a powerful pro-consumer lobby"? Are you kidding? I didn't know such a thing exists.

Mrs P wrote on June 19, 2007 10:31 AM:

I read Griles sentence request and Operation Coaches and Warriors is a brand-new idea which supposedly is an outgrowth of marketing guru, Rick Kell's Operation Hardwood which appears to have been sponsored by the USO.

In Operation Hardwood, college baskteball coachs tour Kuwait for one week at a time and give lessons to military players and teams.

Since Kell already has a database of college coaches and military contacts, it is hard to see what Griles could contribute to this program.

For fun, someone should see if the USO has funded Operation Coaches and Warriors and when the business plan was submitted for approval.

Again, cleaning the locker room and toilets at the local Y sounds like a more appropriate sentence for Griles, if you ask me.

Jane wrote on June 19, 2007 10:48 AM:

Any administration official who wants to do community service should be assigned to a field hospital in Iraq.

By the way, there is no such thing as the National Republican Congressional Committee: it is the National Publican Congressional Committee.

Citizen 92 wrote on June 19, 2007 10:53 AM:

Griles could also help out by doing some time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They've got a years' backlog of mail, peeling paint, and mentally disturbed soldiers getting no help.

Surely Griles could contribute something to this environment -- maybe a comedy act in the base's theatre explaining how he was helping America by helping Abramoff.

ochreous wrote on June 19, 2007 11:00 AM:

A presidential library, you know, for kids!

It will surely have THE 'My Pet Goat'.

conniptionfit wrote on June 19, 2007 11:03 AM:

Bushco and his hench-senators insisted the only strict constructionist, law and order, throw the book at 'em type judges should be confirmed to the federal bench. They can hardly complain that their judges are doing the jobs exactly as they were hired to do, just because the convicted are republicans. I say string 'em up!
coed: bell. Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

conniptionfit wrote on June 19, 2007 11:03 AM:

Bushco and his hench-senators insisted the only strict constructionist, law and order, throw the book at 'em type judges should be confirmed to the federal bench. They can hardly complain that their judges are doing the jobs exactly as they were hired to do, just because the convicted are republicans. I say string 'em up!
code: bell. Ask not for whom the bell tolls...

Anonymous wrote on June 19, 2007 11:36 AM:

"Griles could also help out by doing some time at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. They've got a years' backlog of mail, peeling paint, and mentally disturbed soldiers getting no help" -- said Citizen 92

In principle, at least, something like this might just be a more condign form of justice than jail time, much as I despise these thugs and have zero compassion for them. I would, for ex, find it gratifying to kick any one of them squarely in the groin.

All that said, I got paid for it, but as a student and later as a GI I mopped floors, cleaned toilets, carried bed pans, worked as an ER orderly, bussed and washed dishes and those were memorable experiences. And I spent my college summers working with handicapped kids.

Would these thugs be better men with experiences like that? Dunno, but I'd love to see them doing those chores in a military burn ward ward for, say, twice the time they would have otherwise spent in a country club federal pen.

Once in a blue moon, one of these insects develops genuine remorse and abondons the Dark Side. Let 'em see the pain they've helped bring to so many innocents. Let 'em read Dante's Inferno and learn where sinner such as they get to spend eternity. Most never learn. A few do.

Æneas

xxx

Mrs P wrote on June 19, 2007 12:07 PM:

Something smells fishy about Operation Coaches and Warriors. I wonder if it was created by Rick Kell just to give Griles an nice-sounding excuse for community service.

In the Griles defense plea memo, the attorneys call Operations Coaches and Warriors a "new" program and an "outgrowth" of Operation Hardwood. But the attorneys do not stated that Operation Coaches and Warriors is sponsored by the USO and the Armed Forces Entertainment Division like Operation Hardwoods is.

If I were the judge, I'd ask to see a dated copy of the Operation Coaches and Warriors business plan and budget. If the program is just a twinkle in Kell's eye, I'd throw the book at Griles.

Billy Pilgrim wrote on June 19, 2007 12:10 PM:

From Kennedy/Whitehouse:

"Caging is a reprehensible voter suppression tactic, and it may also violate federal law and the terms of applicable judicially enforceable consent decrees."

Go for the throat, Ted and Sheldon, and take no hostages.

Roberta wrote on June 19, 2007 12:17 PM:

From the Post article: "Bush acknowledged the existence of secret CIA detention centers last September and said the last 14 prisoners being held had been transferred to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The administration at the same time left open the possibility that new prisoners could be detained under the program, which Bush called a crucial national security tool."

I can give you MY definition of torture: living through this administration. Every revelation confirming the patterns of lies, obfuscation, and utter contempt for Americans, Iraqis, Muslims, the rule of law, and more (ad nauseam) is sickening.

And for it to take so long to come up with their definition of torture says more about their moral and ethical bankruptcy than foot dragging. They have to find someone outside of their bubble who can define it for them.

Steve5117 wrote on June 19, 2007 12:36 PM:

Mrs. P

The USO web site list these Special Programs:
USO Operation Phone Home Operation
USO Care Package
United Through Reading
Operation Enduring Care
Mobile USO Program
Gifts From the Homefront
Operation Mail Call

No mention of Operation Hardwood or Operation Coaches and Warriors.

Perhaps these two know what you want ot know?

Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications
John Hanson
Phone: (703) 908-6481 office
Phone 2: (703) 739-0924 home
Email: jhanson@uso.org

Communications Specialist
Tiane Harrison
Phone: (703) 908-6433 office
Phone 2: (202) 270-5553 cell
Email: tharrison@uso.org

Mrs P wrote on June 19, 2007 12:49 PM:

Thanks, Steve but I don't think I'd call either of those two people. I did find out that Rick Kell, the sponsor of operation Coaches and Warriors is the president of Maryland based Kell Communications.

Kell wrote a letter to the court outlining the program but I don't have access to it. Did you read about the premise? The program would send college memorabilia to an injured Iraq war vet and get him free tickets to games.

Griles is supposed to develop a database of participating coaches and coordinate public relations activities. Yeah, right.

modmom wrote on June 19, 2007 1:20 PM:

EXCELLENT ARTICLE:

Bob Fitrakis

Ohio, the DOJ scandal and "Thor" - the god of voter suppression
June 18, 2007

The current scandal involving the firing of U.S. attorneys cannot be separated from the Bush administration's scheme to suppress black, poor and working class voters. In order to divert attention from its voter suppression tactics that won Bush the White House in 2000 and 2004, the Bush administration created the myth of "voter fraud." Using fake "voting rights" organizations, obscure groups to finance civil suits and pressure on the U.S. Department of Justice to bring criminal charges against voter registration organizations, Karl Rove and his political operatives like Mark F. "Thor" Hearne have succeeded in undermining the United States' democracy.

"Hearne was one of the most important Bush operatives that almost nobody in America has ever heard of. He applied his vote-suppressing trade from coast to coast, behind the scenes, in a well-funded systematic effort to undermine democracy and keep voters – Democratic voters – from exercising their legal franchise," Brad Friedman, Editor of Bradblog, told the Free Press. Bradblog was the first to reveal Hearne's masquerade as a voting rights advocate.

Hearne's name recently surfaced in the scandal surrounding the White House's firing of U.S. attorneys causing the mainstream media to begin scrutinizing his past political activity. The National Journal has pointed out that Hearne is a "common denominator" in the firing of Arkansas U.S. Attorney Bud Cummins and western Missouri U.S. Attorney Todd Graves. At the time of the firings, Cummins was investigating Republican Governor Matt Blunt's administration, and Graves had refused to indict when partisan charges were brought against the Association of Communities Organizing for Reform Now (ACORN) for a voter registration drive just prior to the 2006 election.

-snip
http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2007/1555

dixiegrl wrote on June 19, 2007 1:29 PM:

A counting game..
how many Dems
How many Repubs?

( list from http://www.beyonddelay.org/)

The 20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress

* Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT)
* Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN)
* Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA)
* Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)
* Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
* Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA)
* Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)
* Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL)
* Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA)
* Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
* Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)
* Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
* Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
* Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA)
* Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
* Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)
* Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY)
* Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC)
* Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
* Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)

Dishonorable Mentions

* Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT)
* Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
* Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ)
* Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
* Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA)

Steve5117 wrote on June 19, 2007 1:44 PM:

Mrs. P

Rick gets around. I guess he drives north on I-95 from Laurel, MD to Aberdeen, MD to hob nob with Cal Ripkin Jr. and his minor league Ironbirds:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4183/is_20030616/ai_n10056125

With Operation Hardwood Rick drives south on US 1 to College Park to hang with the Terps:

http://www.coachgarywilliams.com/community.htm

It seems funny to me that Kell Communications do not have a website. I just had someone in Jessup, MD look in the Laurel phone book and the only listing was for a Kell & Co.

I wonder if Rick hangs out in the sports bar near Laurel Raceway or if he prefers the Lakefront in Columbia?

I wonder if anybody knows where Rick hangs out? If I knew, I'd stop by and buy him a drink.

Mrs P wrote on June 19, 2007 2:11 PM:

Steve,

Corporate Reg:
KELL COMMUNICATIONS INC
SUITE 109;535 MAIN ST.
LAUREL, MD 20707

Filing Date: 6/7/1983

Kell and Company is the old name.

From a business directory:

TELEPHONE: (301) 953-8700
FAX: (301)953-7659

INCORPORATION DATE: 1981
LEGAL STATUS: Private Company, Headquarters Location
EMPLOYEES: 3 (Call Report)

EXECUTIVES
Richard Kell, President Chief Executive Officer
M. Steven Kell, Vice President, Finance Chief Financial Officer

Services: Advertising agency.

Steve5117 wrote on June 19, 2007 3:01 PM:

Mrs. P

Rick Kell is no longer associated with Kell and Co., according to Terrance who answered the phone. Terrence hgad no information as to where Rick is now working.

After identifying myself and location, I inquired about Operation Hardwood and Operation Coaches and Warriers.

I was told Rick would probably respond to email sent to rckellco@aol.com

Mrs P wrote on June 19, 2007 3:40 PM:

Interesting, Steve. I found a 2005 DoD article about Operation Hardwood that refers to Rick Kell as Executive Director - link below. You think Kell works for the DoD as a marketing guy?

If Rick C. Kell works for the DoD, I don't think he has any business offering to put a convicted felon to work on a make-work project.

What do we do now? I don't think Griles should get a pass for using injured Iraq war vets as a get-out-of-jail-free card

Mrs P wrote on June 19, 2007 3:59 PM:

Another clue. Rick Kell is listed in a photo that accompanied a 12/25/06 Jacksonville Times-Union story about PGA players on tour in Kuwait. The tour was sponsored by the USO.

From Lexis-Nexis:

GRAPHIC: Photo
Courtesy of Frank Lickliter Frank Lickliter watches a U.S. solider during a golf clinic. The soldier asked Lickliter to hold his weapon while he took some swings with the club. "I've seen some pretty good swings at these clinics," Lickliter said. Courtesy Frank Lickliter On each of a half-dozen helicopter flights, the players were required to wear flak jackets and helmets. Donnie Hammond (from left), Corey Pavin, Howard Twitty, Art Sellinger, Brian Pavlet, Frank Lickliter, Jerry Kelly and Rick Kell pose with their helmets and jackets. Courtesy of Frank Lickliter Ponte Vedra Beach resident and two-time PGA Tour winner Frank Lickliter (left) watches as 1995 U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin examines a weapon used by Army personnel in Iraq.

Eric Ferguson wrote on June 19, 2007 5:01 PM:

On question arising from the Paulose story: did anyone else notice that John Kelly, the guy from DC who was helping her reorganize, has resigned?

Steve5117 wrote on June 19, 2007 5:06 PM:

Mrs. P

I found this while looking around golf sites.

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/index.php?option=com_magazine&Itemid=1

The PGA website has remove a picture of Frank Lickliter of the same date as the newspaper picture.

The Wounded Warrier Project is located on AC Skinner Parkway in Jacksonville, FL, 15 minutes from Ponte Vedre and 25 from the Players' Course.

It just so happens that I'll be flying into Jacksonville this Friday. I'm a Navy veteran (I was stationed aboard a ship homeported at Mayport Naval Stationin Jacksonville) and I'm disabled, so I wonder what Operation Wounded Warrier has of interest to me.

I think I'll ask them if they were expecting me.

Mrs P wrote on June 19, 2007 5:51 PM:

Steve, I took a look at the WWP website and wasn't too impressed but what does WWP have to do with Griles and Operation Coaches and Warriors?

Steve5117 wrote on June 19, 2007 5:54 PM:

Name Position Phone Fax
Mrs. P

The Wounded Warriors Project has 6 people working in New York:

WWP New York Office 212-629-8881 212-629-8885
Al Giordano Deputy Executive Director / COO
Brace Feldbusch WWP Outdoor Coordinator
Jeremy Chwat EVP, Program Services
John Fernandez WWP Alumni Coordinator
Woody Groton WWP Soldier Ride National Tour Director

There are 23 people in the Jacksonville office.

Jacksonville is a Navy town, with Mayport Naval Station located 15 miles east of downtown at the mouth of the St. Johns River and Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, about 15 miles south of downtown also on the St. Johns River.

NAS Jax is now famous because many military personell who received their mail via an NAS Jax address were on the caging lists that Tim Griffith knew nothing about. Interestingly enough, sailors whose ships are stationed at Mayport get mail through the Fleet Post Office in New York.

Steve5117 wrote on June 19, 2007 6:23 PM:

I'm getting more interested in Mr. Kell. He obviously likes sports and it seems that he got to travel to Kuwait with 8 college basketball coaches with Operation Hardwood I. I haven't seen his name with II, III or IV.

Then Mrs. Panstreppon posts about a picture of Rick with golfers in Florida. In trying to locate that picture online I stumble across another sport/military operation with golf. The next thing I know I see references to other charitable organizations to benifit military personell.

I begining to wonder if Rick Kell was or is involved in setting up those other organizations. Not that there is anything wrong with that, in fact I think it would be cool to apply skills one has with an advocation like sports.

But I don't know that to be true about Rick Kell. Maybe he'll come out of the woodwork and let us know where he is?

Does anybody have a way to see if he's in jail?

Where are you Rick? Inquiring minds want to know.
I am curious about him because it seems we have ties in the same areas in Maryland and in Florida. I am just wondering if our paths have ever crossed, either in a bar or on a golf course.