Rove's personal assistant at the time, Susan Ralston, formerly worked
as Abramoff's secretary.

The ties between Tyco and Greenberg Traurig have already been
investigated by a special counsel appointed by Greenberg to examine
Abramoff's activities at the firm.


From The Washington Post, 9/23/05:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/22/AR2005092202204_pf.html

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, September 23, 2005; A06

Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff bragged two years ago that he was in
contact with White House political aide Karl Rove on behalf of a
large, Bermuda-based corporation that wanted to avoid incurring some
taxes and continue receiving federal contracts, according to a written
statement by President Bush's nominee to be deputy attorney general.

Timothy E. Flanigan, general counsel for conglomerate Tyco
International Ltd., said in a statement to the Senate Judiciary
Committee last week that Abramoff's lobbying firm initially boasted
that Abramoff could help Tyco fend off a special liability tax because
he "had good relationships with members of Congress," including House
Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.).

Abramoff later said "he had contact with Mr. Karl Rove" about the
issue, according to the statement by Flanigan, who oversaw Tyco's
dealings with Abramoff and his firm and received reports from Abramoff
about progress in the lobbying campaign.

Flanigan's statement is the latest indication that Abramoff promoted
himself as having ready access to senior officials in the Bush
administration.

A White House spokeswoman, Erin Healy, said Rove "has no recollection"
of being contacted by Abramoff about Tyco's concerns.

Abramoff was indicted last month on unrelated wire fraud and
conspiracy charges and has lost his high-stakes lobbying clients.

He was hired in 2003 by Tyco when the company was in turmoil.

Abramoff's firm, Greenberg Traurig, promoted him as Tyco's savior on
the tax issue, according to Flanigan's statement and others familiar
with the process.

Tyco -- whose executive L. Dennis Kozlowski had just departed under an
ethics cloud -- was worried that the Bush administration might embrace
legislation promoted by Democrats that would impose higher taxes on
domestic-centered companies that had moved offshore to cut their tax
bills.

The legislation was motivated by popular anger over such offshore
moves, and carried the additional penalty of barring such firms from
receiving federal contracts.

Lobbying disclosure statements filed by Abramoff listing his work for
Tyco cite the "Executive Office of the President" as one of his
lobbying targets on the tax and contracts issues.

Others were the Department of Commerce, the General Services
Administration and Congress.

Greenberg Traurig records submitted to Tyco describe specific contacts
with the White House legislative office, a source familiar with the
matter said yesterday.

Rove's personal assistant at the time, Susan Ralston, formerly worked
as Abramoff's secretary.

__________________________________________________________

Quite a bag of Republican worms, eh?

Harry