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Corrupt Government Title: White House aide to Rove resigns in the wake of congressional report that listed hundreds of contacts between disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House WASHINGTON - A key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove resigned Friday after a congressional report 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 major issues. "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. Abramoff has pleaded guilty to fraud and now is now cooperating with prosecutors in an influence peddling investigation that has rocked Capitol Hill. 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 Abramoff and his team offered White House officials tickets to 19 sporting events and concerts, and Ralston was the most frequent recipient. Perino said the resignation of Ralston, who helped 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. " The report said Ralston received tickets to nine events from 2001 to 2004: four Capitals hockey games, one Baltimore Orioles baseball game, two Wizards basketball games, and Bruce Springsteen and Andrea Bocelli concerts. The report did not make it clear whether Ralston or other White House officials paid for any of the tickets. In one case, Ralston wrote to Abramoff saying Rove "has to pay" for the tickets he received to an NCAA basketball playoff game. In another instance, Ralston wrote an e-mail saying she was "willing to pay" for Capitals tickets, but Abramoff replied: "No problem, and you don't have to pay." And after an Aug. 23, 2003, Orioles game that Ralston attended, she e-mailed Abramoff: "Thanks for the tix to the game last night. Our guests had a terrific time. (W)e had fun and appreciate your generosity."
Poster Comment: Reporters Press Free Republic Freeper Tony Snow on the Woodward Book -- He Denies White House in Denial posted 7 days ago by TLBSHOW
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#1. To: TLBSHOW (#0)
Susan Ralston is the mother lode to the money and scandals. She's knows where all the bodies are buried and this article is disinfo and a feint.
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