Comments (35)

joseph loiacano wrote on July 13, 2007 7:37 PM:

thank you

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 13, 2007 7:46 PM:

BLT, the Legal Times blog, reported that Carpenter was going to plead guilty to tax evasion on June 8 so this is no surpise.

R. Jared Carpenter certainly has managed to keep a low profile throughtout the CREA scandal. All I know about him is that he was a clerk for the House Subcommittee on Human Resources and Intergovernmental Relations in 1997 and 1998.

In addition to being CREA's vice-president, Carpenter also was custodian for a 527, Renew Our Urban Centers Fund which also was known at one time as Council For Republican Environmental Advocacy. About $100k contributed to the fund in 2000 has never been accounted for in the 8872s filed with the IRS.

I think the DOJ is trying to drag out the CREA investigation to protect Gale Norton and possibly Julie Finley, a prominent GOP funraiser. Looking at the CREA 990s for '03,'04 and '05, it is clear that something was amiss. No payroll taxes were reported in those periods yet it took the DOJ more than a year to get around to charging Federici and Carpenter.

People have been assuming that Abramoff's Indian tribes were CREA's main source of funding. There is at least $400k that came from other sources. I suspect that CREA's 990s may have been amended to disguise other contributions.

In February, I analyzed the CREA 990s and compiled some information about Italia Federici and R. jared Carpenter - link below.

paul wrote on July 13, 2007 7:48 PM:

Geez. When you're running a multi-million-dollar scam, you can make the whole thing fall apart by not paying your taxes. And if the rest of it goes south, you just know you'll get hit on the tax evasion. Arrogant and stupid.

TheraP wrote on July 13, 2007 8:53 PM:

Mrs P, you've been missed!

Glad to see you back on the case!

Steve5117 wrote on July 13, 2007 9:31 PM:

Mrs P

Ditto to TheraP's comment

Did you see the report issued by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission that was different from what the researchers had given to the comission?

Some of the people interviewed include your favorite, Robin DeJarnette. Thor Hearn ws involved also.

Steve5117 wrote on July 13, 2007 9:45 PM:

Here's the original report by Tova Andrea Wang original report

Steve5117 wrote on July 13, 2007 10:10 PM:

The cover of the final report reminded me of the 14 Points of fascism I saw at the Project for the Old American Century.

The first point: Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

http://www.oldamericancentury.org/14pts.htm

The fact that the flag on the cover of the report is not a 50 star flag bothers me too. I wonder if that's a Federalist thing, preferring the original stars and stripes.

JGabriel wrote on July 13, 2007 10:17 PM:

Laura, FYI: BAD LINK on TPM Front Page:

The TPM Front Page article "House Judiciary: We 'Insist' Miers Comply With Subpoena" is linked at

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003681.php

when it should be

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003683.php

.

George Hayduke wrote on July 13, 2007 10:25 PM:

When will Gale Norton's name come up in the CREA corruption?

anon wrote on July 14, 2007 1:34 AM:

Don't forget to update the Mukraker GOD!

code: smile

Slippery Slope wrote on July 14, 2007 1:46 AM:

When there is a Constitutional meltdown in the making few seem to pay attention to good old fashion graft and corruption. It’s quite telling when an Abramoff story doesn’t draw any trolls.

Amazing!

The Rethuglican flacks are too busy trolling the bigger fish rodeos now days. What, with Inherent Contempt and Impeachment talk creeping into the consciousness of We the People, I guess the troll budget has its priority threads.

It is a shame too. I miss the simpler days when Republicans would defend Abramoff’s crew.

JNagarya wrote on July 14, 2007 1:49 AM:

"I think the DOJ is trying to drag out the CREA investigation to protect Gale Norton and possibly Julie Finley, a prominent GOP funraiser. Looking at the CREA 990s for '03,'04 and '05, it is clear that something was amiss. No payroll taxes were reported in those periods yet it took the DOJ more than a year to get around to charging Federici and Carpenter."

See the latest update -- a wealth of information, and names, for your research efforts -- re. how the DOJ apparently downplayed the Abramoff scandal -- after all, Rove and Abramoff are best buddies of years' standing. --

http://harpers.org/subjects/NoComment

In that, Atty. Horton and his sources and co-reporter have composed an increasingly clear forensic of the fatcs and relationships, including more direct ties between Rove and numerous principles in the Siegelman case -- and the DOJ. The politicization of DOJ, and how that was done and used, is increasingly clear. And in this instance, is entirely outside the scope of Bushit's blatantly absurd claim of Executive Privilege. Note that in the February testimony by Gonazles, Leahy got Gonazles' agreement that the DOJ is not covered by Executive Privilege.

Posted by: Mrs Panstreppon
Date: July 13, 2007 7:46 PM

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 14, 2007 11:38 AM:

Someone here asked when Gale Norton's name will come up with CREA. It already has but to date, no one has publicly explained the relationship between CREA president, Italia Federici, and Secretary Norton while Norton was in office.

In March 6, 2001 email, Jack Abramoff listed "Norton ANWR CREA" as an item to be discussed in a forthcoming meeting with Karl Rove. Abramoff also referred to Federici as his link to Norton, not Griles, in a later email.

Federici's contact with Norton during Norton's tenure is indisputable. Norton met with Federici, Sue Ellen Wooldridge and three other DOI officials on July 10, 2001. In September 2004, Norton appeared at a CREA-sponsored event at the Central Park Boathouse during the GOP convention and Norton then met again with Federici in December 2004.

When McCain held his famous Senate Indian Affairs Committe hearings in November 2005, he said that there was absolutely no indication of wrongdoing on Norton's part. I'd like to read the minutes of the committee's Norton interview. Norton certainbly knew that Griles and Federici had had a long term affair because she was friends with both of them. Did Norton tell the committee about it?

A twist on the CREA scandal is whether the members and staff of McCain's Senate Indian Affairs Committee knew about the Griles-Federici romance when Griles and Federici testified. In her testimmony, Federici was careful to allude to the fact that she had been told by a reporter that the committee did know about it.

The Griles-Federici romance had been ongoing since 1998. Both Griles and Federici were single so there was no reason at all for them to hide their relationship. You would have to wonder about the quality of the committee's investigators if they hadn't found about the Griles-Federici romance before the hearings in November 2005.

Did John McCain and other members of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee deliberately hide their knowledge of the Griles-Federici romance to minimize the damage from CREA scandal? Sounds like some form of obstruction of justice to me.

TheraP wrote on July 14, 2007 12:49 PM:

Mrs P

When republicans say there was "no wrongdoing," that's when the digging should go deeper, don't you think?

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 14, 2007 1:55 PM:

Thera,

In this case, yes. I don't remember where I read it but someone online wrote about how McCain was warned by the GOP to narrow the focus of his Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings to ensure that Norton was not dragged into it and that the committee did, indeed, know about the Griles-Federici romance before the hearings or at least, the committee staff knew about it.

I posted a transcript of Federici's testimony before the committee at the TPM Cafe - link below. It seems clear to me that Federici was trying to bring out certain facts.

(1)Federici brought up her romance with Griles by saying:

"I was told that there was a narrative of a very personal nature that was being put forward from committee staff. You know, it sort of fits with----"

(2) Federici referred to her contact with the RNC:

"Let me put it to you this way. When I walk into the Republican National Committee building, and Chairman McCain, you will know this more than Vice Chairman Dorgan, there is a center there called the DeVos Media Center..."

http://indian.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Investigations

Interesting that neither McCain nor Senator Byron Dorgan asked Federici about her relationship with Norton, professionally or personally despite the fact that Norton had had on the record meetings with Federici.

CREA's September 1, 2004 event during the GOP convention is an indication of closely Federici was linked to Norton and the RNC. Norton allocated two hours on her convention schedule for the occasion.

I hope someone asks Dorgan what parameters were established, if any, before the hearings as to what questions for Federici were acceptable. Dorgan could certainly shed some light on whether the committee knew about the Griles-Federici romance before the hearings.

I think someone should be investigating McCain's investigation into the CREA-Abramoff scandal to see if there was a coverup. If McCain's Senate Indian Affairs Committee knew about the Griles-Federici romance before the hearings, everyone on the committee knew that Federici and Griles had lied to Congress yet Griles wan't charged until after the November elections.

A few of the questions I'd like answered:

*Did McCain's Senate Indian Affairs Committee know about the Griles-Federici romance before Griles and Federici testified? If so, why wasn't Federici and Griles asked about their romance when they testified? Did the Committee report to the DOJ that Griles and Federici perjured themselves after the hearings? If not, why not?

*Did the Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigators interview Gale Norton? If so, was she asked specifically about what she knew about the relationship beween Griles and Federici? did she lie?

*Who besides Abramoff funded CREA? Did Fedrici have conversations with Norton and Griles about her other donors?

*Did Federici ever discuss Abramoff with Norton?

*What was Abramoff's interest in ANWR?

*Who brought Federici and Carpenter together with the Teamsters? How was the Labor Environment Alliance funded? What activites did LEA engage in? Could any of them be construed as campaign-related?

The DOJ is still trying to keep the CREA investigation under wraps. There is absolutely no reason that Carpenter could not have pleaded guilty to tax evasion at the same time as Federici other than to minimize publicity. Note the late Friday afternoon announcement.

TheraP wrote on July 14, 2007 2:15 PM:

Mrs P

I seem to recall somebody's research suggesting that many of the fired AG's had been on DoJ Indian Affairs committees.

Do you think there could be a connection with this other stuff DoJ wants to keep under wraps?

There is simply too much that's been covered up! And it just makes you wonder... and wonder some more.

Thanks for all your hard work!!!

Keep your "nose" to the grindstone.

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 14, 2007 2:28 PM:

Thera,

Yes, I think the DOJ is stalling the Abramoff, Mitchell Wade and Curt Weldon investigations. One reason might be to let the statute of limitations lapse on some of the crimes.

I don't know enough about the law to know the answer but say Abramoff transferred money to DeLay through his Capital Athletics Foundation in 2002 as DeLay requested. We know Abramoff did that for convicted felon, Mark Zachares. Does the statute of limitations lapse after five years?

One thing that you should think about is whether McCain knew about the Griles-Federici romance when he questioned Griles and Federici in November 2005. If McCain knew that Griles and Federici were perjuting themselves at the time, why did he let them off the hook?

If McCain's presidential campaign goes any further, I see his conduct during those hearings becoming a very big issue with regard to McCain's integrity.

Alberto Gonnasolvethis wrote on July 14, 2007 2:36 PM:

Mrs P

Please contact me - privately. Much to discuss :)

Many thx!

Steve5117 wrote on July 14, 2007 2:50 PM:

TheraP

Rachael Paulose, USA for Minnesota, replaced Thomas Heffelfinger for what Monica Goodling said was "his preoccupation with indian affairs issues."

Ms. Paulose is one of those self-important, Federalist society member, who threw herself a regal swearing in ceremony. Rachael needs to be watched with Indian Voting Rights issues.

Impeach Bush/Cheney 07

TheraP wrote on July 14, 2007 2:52 PM:

That's exactly what I was wondering about, Mrs P. Money changing hands. Money being hidden.

This is just too fishy!

Doesn't pass the smell test.

TheraP wrote on July 14, 2007 2:55 PM:

Thank you, Steve.

I seem to recall that most of the fired USA,s were in border states. And I think that Iglesias, for example, was perhaps the chair of a DoJ committee related to Indian Affairs. Perhaps he was getting to close to something? And others too?

Alberto Gonnasolvethis wrote on July 14, 2007 2:58 PM:

Don't miss the related kos diary (and comments) by "Land of Enchantment" here:

Its cross-posted at epluribus website.

Alberto Gonnasolvethis wrote on July 14, 2007 3:05 PM:

Abramoff funded Federici/Carpenter's astroturf group in order to get access to Griles/Norton. Federici and Norton are old pals; they co-founded CREA.

Griles likely helped squelch a draft DOI report that was prepared post-9/11 that described the horrendous risk to US security posed by letting the Marianas Islands retain control of its borders. But without the CNMI retaining that control, Jack's sweatshop owners/clients could not do business...

TheraP wrote on July 14, 2007 3:05 PM:

Alberto:

Put the url in the "url" space above where you comment. And it will be linked to your name in when the post shows up. (and the name will show up in red - to indicate there's a link there)

Thanks for the link! (when it comes)

Alberto Gonnasolvethis wrote on July 14, 2007 3:10 PM:

Thx TheraP-

I'm relatively new (as a poster) to this. Here's the link to LOE's kos diary:

BTW, Are you related to Mrs P? Maybe a daughter? ;)

TheraP wrote on July 14, 2007 3:25 PM:

Thanks for the link.

As Mrs P says, new names... new ideas!

Mrs P wrote on July 14, 2007 3:27 PM:

Mrs Panstreppon is Hyacinth's aunt.

Steve5117 wrote on July 14, 2007 3:38 PM:

Mrs P

I am still reading your cafe archieve and become more impressed daily.

Have you examined any grants to Faith Based Organizations?

Does Hyacinth check out books at the Huntington Library?

Alberto Gonnasolvethis wrote on July 14, 2007 3:58 PM:

Thx for the welcome TheraP, and thx for the correct family lineages Mrs P.

Mrs P: More than CREA, I'm interested in discussing "Teck Travelors" - hope to hear from you (misspelling deliberate).

Gonna go out and enjoy the rest of this beautiful day...

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 14, 2007 4:19 PM:

Alberto G.,

Ah, Tech Travelers. My TPM Cafe post about the Doolittles and Tech Travelers is not so easy to find on Google anymore (link below).

Julia Doolittle's name and home address is on the Tech Travelers VA corporate registration. Oddly enough, Tech Travelers changed its name to Red Branch Technologies about a week after I posted about the Doolittles and the company.

I would be delighted to discuss Tech Travelers. How do I get in touch with you? I can be reached through my TPM Cafe account.

Mrs P

Anonymous wrote on July 15, 2007 9:22 AM:

Tough talk on impeachment. Please watch it, share it, and then email, write or call your congressmen and especially the speaker of the house and tell them it is time that they did thier duty.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07132007/profile.html

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 15, 2007 10:15 AM:

The Hill
7/14/07
By Mike Soraghan

"Abramoff investigation leads to another guilty plea" (link below)

"Another Republican environmental activist has pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges uncovered as part of the investigation of now-imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Jared Carpenter was the vice president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA), which derived from a group founded by former Interior Secretary Gale Norton, anti-tax activist Grover Norquist and Italia Federici.

Federici pleaded guilty last month to tax evasion and obstruction charges and is to be sentenced Nov. 14.

Carpenter pleaded guilty to one count of income tax evasion on July 6 in a plea that was not publicized by the Justice Department and was first reported Friday by Greenwire.

He must pay $74,241 in back taxes by the date of his sentencing Nov. 1. The crime carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Court documents state that CREA‘s two staffers didn’t separate CREA’s finances from their own, simply withdrawing money from the CREA accounts rather than taking a salaries. Carpenter, the documents say, did not file income tax returns for 2001, 2002 or 2003.

During that time, he had an income totaling $236,135 according to court documents. From March 2001 to May 2003 CREA got $723,500.

According to court documents, “Contributors to CREA included, among others, former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Native American tribes via Abramoff and the former clients of J. Steven Griles.”

Griles, a lobbyist and former deputy secretary of Interior under Norton, was sentenced last month to 10 months in prison for lying to the Senate committee investigating Abramoff."

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 15, 2007 11:52 AM:

For the record:

R. Jared Carpenter was vice-president of the Council of Republicans For Environmental Advocacy (CREA and custodian of Renew Our Urban Centers Fund.

CREA, a 501(c)(4), and Renew Our Urban Centers, a 527, are two distinct entities. CREA's EIN# is 52-2265595 and Renew Our Urban Center's EIN# is 52-.

The CREA 990s are online at the Foundation Center's 990 Finder. Search by EIN#.

Renew Our Urban Centers Fund 8872s are online at the IRS website. Carpenter also filed 8872s under the same EIN# for the Council for Republican Environmental Advocacy.

http://forms.irs.gov/politicalOrgsSearch/search/gotoBasicSearch.action

Carpenter has never accounted for approximately $100k in contributions to Renew Our Urban Centers aka Council for Republican Environmental Advocacy reported in October in 2000.

Oddly enough, Carpenter continued to file 8872s for Renew Our Urban Centers aka Council for Republican Environmental Advocacy through December 31, 2006.

What if the $100k contributed to the 527 was spent by Carpenter but never reported to the IRS? Shouldn't Carpenter incur additional charges and penalties, especially if he didn't tell the DOJ about the 527?

Mrs Panstreppon wrote on July 15, 2007 12:09 PM:

Oops! Renew Our Urban Centers Fund aka Council For Republican Environmental Advocacy - EIN# 52-2166366. Search for 8871s and 8872s at the IRS website - link below.

TheraP wrote on July 15, 2007 1:01 PM:

What a nose you have, Mrs P!

And what a grindstone they have provided you with!