Washington — Former Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles pleaded guilty today to one felony count of obstruction of justice for lying to a Senate committee about his ties to jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
Griles, a former oil and gas lobbyist, is now the highest Bush administration official convicted in the Abramoff scandal. From 2001-2005, he was the No.2 man at the Interior Department under former Secretary Gale Norton, and served as the department’s chief liaison to Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy task force.
Appearing in federal court in Washington, D.C., Griles, apologized for misleading the Senate Indian Affairs committee in October and November 2005 about the nature of his relationship with Abramoff. Griles told committee investigators then that Abramoff was “no different than any other lobbyist,” when in fact Abramoff had direct access to Griles, according to the plea.
“I am sorry for my wrongdoing. I fully accept the responsibility for my conduct and the consequences it may have,” Griles said to District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle. “When a Senate committee asks questions, they must be answered fully and completely and it is not my place to decide whether those questions are relevant or too personal. I apologize to my family, my friends, the committee and its staff.”
According to the Justice Department, Abramoff gained unique access to Griles through Italia Federici, a Republican environmental activist referred to as “person A” in the plea agreement. Federici — who worked in Colorado as a campaign aide for Norton’s unsuccessful 1996 U.S. Senate bid — introduced the two men on March 1, 2001, when she was Griles’ girlfriend.
Abramoff then used his connection to Griles to persuade his Indian casino clients that he had special access to the department and influenced them to pay $500,000 to a tax-exempt organization founded by Federici and supported by Griles.
Abramoff is now serving a 70-month prison term after pleading guilty in 2006 to fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Griles, 59, faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing date is scheduled for June 26.
Justice Department officials hailed the agreement, but vowed to continue investigating other officials in the Abramoff scandal, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and former Sen. Conrad Burns of Montana. Eight other individuals already have been convicted in the Abramoff probe.
“I am confident that the Griles conviction will serve as a warning to other government officials that when they intentionally make false statements or otherwise engage in misconduct, they will be vigorously prosecuted,” said Earl E. Devaney, Inspector General at the Interior Department. “I am most proud of the willingness of many Department employees who told the truth about (Griles), sometimes at great risk to their careers.”
