WH Counsel Stops Investigating Ralston's Help of Abramoff Because She Quit

[bigtree]

Saturday, October 7, 2006

Rove aide quits -- she took gifts, gave Abramoff inside information

Peter Baker, James V. Grimaldi, Washington Post

{snip}

A congressional report showed last week that Ralston accepted sometimes-pricey tickets to nine sports and entertainment events from Abramoff while she provided him with inside White House information. The bipartisan report said there was no evidence that Rove knew of or approved of Ralston's actions, and sources said Friday that the White House was surprised by the report's revelations.

The White House counsel's office conducted a review of the report, but with Ralston's departure, it closed its inquiry Friday.

A senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the counsel's office reached no conclusion on whether Ralston violated gift limits, because her resignation made the point moot. But the official said there were "mitigating circumstances" in her case, because she had a pre-existing relationship with Abramoff, for whom she worked before joining the White House.

The official said the White House made no criminal referral in her case. A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/10/07/MNGH9LKM2R1.DTL


http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[OzarkDem]

1. Much more to this than meets the eye

She was the top aide for both Abramoff and Rove. Everyone knew she was Abramoff's person inside the WH, they knew that when they hired her.

[rodeodance]

3. umm.

[leveymg]

20. Tickets? Who cares, Much bigger $$$$ deal discussed

by Jack and Susan in late 2002 e-mail. Ralston proposed that Jack make an investment to "roll up" several existing defense contractors into a big Pentagon contracting firm that Abramoff would manage. Shades of MZM and Carlyle.

Abramoff apparently was unwilling to commit "serious money" to the deal at that time, but advised her to further develop the business plan. In a pair of private e-mails on 11/24/2002, he tells her, "perhaps we should wait until 2005."

The idea of Jack Abramoff heading a defense contractor makes sense, considering how he did business, it probably would have made a lot of money before the Board got indicted. The reference to 2005 is interesting - perhaps, he thought that Ralston and he might have more time on their hands after November, 2004?

See: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2343221

[rodeodance]

2. so, she just walks?

[C_U_L8R]

4. That's plain silly

She wasn't using all those tickets n stuff herself.
Betcha it was ALL for Rove

[lapfog_1]

5. Bullshit!!!

mitigating circumstances my ass!!!!

As a former contract administrator for the Federal Government, including service on sensitive SEBs, I can
tell you that contacts and/or receipt of gifts from friends, family members, FORMER COWORKERS, etc were
especially discouraged (if they had business with the federal government) because such gifts might give
the appearance of impropriety.

[Divernan]

6. According to the WH's twisted logic,if a corporation started investigating

an employee for fraud, and the employee resigned, the corporation would not pursue said employee. What total bullshit!

[kurth]

7. GOP "Law & Order": Wanna beat the rap? Just quit your job and

we'll give you another cushy job.

[Frustratedlady]

8. I'd be more interested in what she knew about the 2004 election.

I can still picture her next to Rove when the counts were coming down. Rove looked so confident and Susan was more than a bit nervous.

In other words, she "quit" because she knows too much. JAT

[symbolman]

9. In the words of Bush Senior

THIS WILL NOT STAND.

I hope to hell Fitz is on this, I think he needs to drag this woman into court and JAIL HER until she starts talking..

[Geoff R. Casavant]

10. "Mitigating Circumstances?" Bull!

Whoever said that just doesn't understand the ethics regulations. There is a blanket rule that says "no gifts from those who have business before your department." Then there are a bunch of exceptions, like gifts of a minimal value, holiday gifts, things you pay fair market value for, and gifts that are based on a family or other personal relationship.

Then there's the kicker -- even if the gift would otherwise fall under an exception, you can't ask for it. Which is what she did, on several occasions, even specifying particular games she wanted to attend. And there is no mitigating circumstance that can save her from that violation.

[druidity33]

18. good info...

thanks, I wasn't aware of some of that... especially the "you can't ask for anything". Though it does seem obvious in retrospect, i wouldn't have made that connection.

K&R

[progressoid]

11. Oh, sure, that makes sense...

:banghead: :mad: :grr: :banghead: :mad: :grr: :banghead: :mad: :grr: :banghead: :mad: :grr: :banghead: :mad: :grr:

[blue cat]

12. This is the story

that should be investigated to the hilt. Should be on the list of the first 100 hours of the dems regaining control.

[Olney Blue]

13. This is an outrage.

She violated ethics rules left and right, and undoubtedly broke the law.

AND SHE WALKS?

[bigtree]

14. Ever see the pedophiles walk out of the house on 'Predator' ?

she won't get far.

[Olney Blue]

15. I hope you are right, bigtree.

She might be singing like a canary, for all we know.

[bigtree]

16. you have to wonder if Bush would have let her go if she was still on thier

team? That's not his pattern. The majority of the folks who've left have turned on him.

[PhilYerHead]

17. Slime, pure and simple, slime, unadulterated.

SwampRat, we need you.

We need a graphic.

Thanks in advance.

Peace
Ms. PYH

[blogslut]

19. And when you're out there

Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Does that make me crazy?
Probably

[Little Star]

21. So can they now start answering

reporters questions? Here comes Helen and David. I hope.

[madokie]

22. I would say the 'gifts' were the meeting places where the scheme

was cooked.:shrug:

[rucky]

23. Now she's golfing with O.J. n/t