Former Deputy Secretary of the Interior Steven Griles was sentenced yesterday to 10 months' prison and three years' probation after a felony conviction of obstructing the Senate's investigation into now-imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff (DoJ). Griles, who pled guilty in March, is the highest-ranking Administration official to be convicted re: the Abramoff scandal (Washington Post)
Griles has refused to cooperate with the government's ongoing Abramoff investigation. Despite this -- and evidence that Griles corruptly traded on his influence -- Justice Department prosecutors asked the judge for leniency, recommending only five-months' jail time. (Legal Times)
Apparently, Griles helped Abramoff 's clients in exchange for donations to Griles' friend Italia Federici's nonprofit Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy (CREA), a reportedly sham environmental group with more interest in energy profits than the environment. According to the Washington Post's Dana Milbank, Griles sought favors from Abramoff on behalf of a number of lady friends.
Federici pled guilty to Abramoff-related charges a few weeks ago and will face sentencing in November. Unlike Griles, Federici agreed to cooperate with the investigation. Both Griles and Federici had close ties to former Interior Secretary Gale Norton, who resigned from President Bush's cabinet after the Abramoff scandal broke.
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