From The Associated Press, 1/16/07:
http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-sou--jamestown-resign0116jan16,0,3524288.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia
Jamestown 400th anniversary commission member resigns amid probe
By SONJA BARISIC
Associated Press Writer
NORFOLK, Va. --
The Interior Department's former No. 2 official has resigned from a
federal commission for Jamestown's 400th anniversary amid reports that
he is a target of a probe involving imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
"As you have no doubt seen, recently there have (been) published
reports concerning investigations of actions involving me," J. Steven
Griles wrote in a letter to Frank Atkinson, chairman of the Jamestown
400th Commemoration Commission.
"Without commenting on those reports, I have come to the conclusion
that it would be better for the commission that I withdraw my
membership," Griles wrote in the letter, dated Jan. 10 and provided to
reporters by the commission on Tuesday.
Griles, an energy lobbyist, did not immediately return a telephone
call Tuesday seeking comment to the Washington, D.C., firm where he
works.
Atkinson was unavailable for comment Tuesday and has made no statement
about the resignation, commission spokesman William Allcott said.
The commission's office in Williamsburg received the letter Saturday,
Allcott said.
The commission works with the state agency planning events for the
400th anniversary of Jamestown, America's first permanent English
settlement.
Its responsibilities include a series of conferences on the future of
democracy.
Griles, former deputy interior secretary during President Bush's first
term, was notified by letter and told of possible charges _ including
lying to Congress--at a meeting this month with Justice Department
prosecutors, The Associated Press reported last week, citing people
familiar with the probe who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The charges involve questions about whether Griles falsely testified
in 2005 before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about Abramoff's
attempts to hire Griles away from Interior.
Griles told the committee that Abramoff had no special access to him.
Griles' attorney, Barry Hartman, has said that committee's report in
September found no evidence that Griles acted improperly.
Abramoff is serving about six years in prison for a fraudulent Florida
casino business deal and awaits sentencing in a Washington bribery
scandal.
The Abramoff investigation ensnared former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, this
fall when the congressman acknowledged accepting gifts in exchange for
government action.
Several Capitol Hill staffers and a former Bush administration
official also have pleaded guilty or have been convicted in the case.
The Senate committee's investigation and e-mails detailed numerous
contacts with Abramoff and Italia Federici, who was a go-between for
Abramoff.
Federici headed the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy,
and federal investigators have been looking at donations the group
received from Abramoff's Indian tribal clients and from energy and
mining companies, including some that were Griles' ex-clients.
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The never-ending investigation of the Republican Abramoff scandal.
Harry
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