J. Steven Has A Bad Day

LATimes (11.03.05):

"Two former high-level Interior Department officials clashed before a Senate committee Wednesday over whether one of them — while still in his government post — sought to pressure Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton on behalf of controversial lobbyist Jack Abramoff's tribal clients. J. Steven Griles, a former deputy Interior secretary, told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee that he had no special relationship with Abramoff and gave him no special access, as the lobbyist had claimed in e-mails and at least one interview." Another Ethics Brush Fire Flares Along Potomac

"'That is outrageous … and it is not true,' Griles said." "But much of Griles' testimony was disputed by the man seated beside him at the witness table, former Interior Department Counsel Michael Rosetti." "Griles' efforts to insinuate himself into Norton's decision-making sessions on behalf of an Indian tribe Abramoff represented so worried him, Rosetti told senators, that he confronted the deputy secretary before two other officials and asked, 'What was he doing? Whose water was he carrying?'" So one might contend that Steven is a two-bit piker and a lying punk. Others might contend he is merely an opportunistic chiseler. Let's ask Italia Federici, president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy!! Washington Post (11.02.05):

"Interior Department officials say Ms. Federici repeatedly contacted department officials, including Ms. Norton and Mr. Griles, on behalf of Mr. Abramoff's Indian clients, even though her organization had no obvious interest in Indian gambling. About that time, the advocacy council received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from some of the tribes." Inquiry on Lobbyist Widens to Senior Officials; Senate Hearing Is Today

By the way, the Committee has a ton of emails. Memos too.