Former Deputy Secretary of Interior Goes To Jail
J. Steven Griles, the second-highest official at the Interior Department during President Bush’s first term, pleaded guilty today to lying to a Senate committee about his ties to Jack Abramoff, the disgraced lobbyist who obtained help from the Interior Department for his Indian tribal clients. [Perhaps this expains why Karl Rove wants to avoid testifying under oath.]
Mr. Griles entered a Guilty plea shortly after 11 a.m. Eastern time at a hearing before United States District Judge Ellen Huvelle. Sentencing was set for June 26.
Under a plea agreement with Mr. Griles, the Justice Department recommended a five-month jail term and another five months in a halfway house or confined to his home. The maximum sentence for a conviction would have been five years in prison. In our opinion five months is a travesty! As a former oil and gas lobbyist, this guy will be back working for Exxon before year end!