How did we miss this? Rove aid resigns from Abramoff connection

Scrum · 10-09-2006, 02:45 AM

Las Vegas SUN: White House Aide to Rove Resigns

White House Aide to Rove Resigns

WASHINGTON (AP) - A key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove resigned Friday in the wake of a congressional report that listed hundreds of contacts between disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House.

Susan Ralston, special assistant to President Bush, submitted a resignation letter to him less than five weeks before congressional elections in which corruption and scandal are emerging as key issues for voters.

"She did not want to be a distraction to the White House at such an important time and so we have accepted her resignation," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

"We support her decision and consider the matter closed," Perino said.

Critics have pointed to Ralston as evidence that Rove - and thus Bush - are possibly closer to Abramoff than the White House has acknowledged. Ralston was Abramoff's administrative assistant at his lobbying firm and, after Bush took office, assumed the same post with Rove.

The House Government Reform Committee last week issued a report saying that based on documents supplied by Abramoff's former lobbying firm, he had 485 lobbying contacts with White House officials over three years, including 10 with Rove. At the time, the White House said it was unclear whether all the listed contacts were legitimate because they were based on sometimes-sketchy information provided by Abramoff himself.

The report also said that Abramoff and his team offered White House officials tickets to 19 sporting events and concerts, and that Ralston was the most frequent recipient.

Ralston's job at the White House involved organizing and coordinating the day's events and messages of the day.

Perino said the resignation of Ralston, who helps organize and coordinate the day's events and message of the White House, follows a White House review of the congressional report.

"Our review of the House Government Reform Committee's report is complete," Perino said. "We expect nothing more after our thorough review. She recognized that a protracted discussion of these matters would be a distraction to the White House and she's chosen to step down. "

So there goes the whole "we don't even know who this Abramoff guy is" defense.

This Foley thing really helped grease this sucker though, that and they tried to slip it through on Friday.

I suppose they could dust off the old "I don't recall" defense that Ronnie was so fond of.

DosEquis · 10-09-2006, 11:06 AM

They should push all their dirt through while the country is distracted by "R U Horny?" and North Korea testing explosives.

ballz2wallz · 10-09-2006, 12:19 PM

I'll tell you how you missed this; you were too concerned with gay sex that never happened.

Scrum · 10-09-2006, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

I'll tell you how you missed this; you were too concerned with gay sex that never happened.

And so how does it feel to know this administration lied, again, to try and save face in a scandal?

ballz2wallz · 10-09-2006, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

And so how does it feel to know this administration lied, again, to try and save face in a scandal?

I'm not sure I follow. Are you suggesting Rove and Abramoff are close to each other?

Scrum · 10-09-2006, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

I'm not sure I follow. Are you suggesting Rove and Abramoff are close to each other?

He did have meetings with him.
When this whole thing first broke, they claimed they had no contact with him.

ballz2wallz · 10-09-2006, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Scrumtralecent

He did have meetings with him.
When this whole thing first broke, they claimed they had no contact with him.

Did Rove do something illegal?

motivez · 10-09-2006, 02:44 PM

That's yet to be seen. However, considering how influential Abramoff has been, being able to kill nominations, suggest people for nominations, and been involved in so much inpropriety and quid pro quos with other Republicans, what this says is that the White House had something to hide in their quite extensive contacts with him.

Blatently denying it is a lie, just like so many other lies that have come out of this White House.

Scrum · 10-09-2006, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Did Rove do something illegal?

I have no idea, but he certainly knew him and met with him which is the opposite of what Rove and Bush had said.