Griles to be sentenced for lying about Abramoff

Tuesday, June 26, 2007  

Update: The judge sentenced Griles to ten months in prison and three years of supervised release. She also imposed a $30,000 fine [Washington Post | Reuters | AP | The Hill]

J. Steven Griles, the former deputy secretary at the Interior Department, will be sentenced this afternoon for lying about his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Griles pleaded guilty in March to one count of obstructing the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He knowingly and willfully lied and concealed material information about Abramoff in an interview with Senate investigators and at a public hearing.

Griles denied Abramoff enjoyed special access at Interior. But documents show Griles took action on behalf of Abramoff's wealthy tribal clients, often using his former girlfriend -- Italia Federici, who has also pleaded guilty for her role in the scandal -- as a go-between.

Federal prosecutors are recommending a 10-month "split" sentence -- half in prison, half in home confinement -- and a $250,000 fine. Griles is seeking no more than three months in home confinement and a lesser fine.

Letters to Judge Ellen Huvelle, who is handling the case, seek leniency for Griles. They came from more than 90 people, including Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby, Special Trustee Ross Swimmer, former assistant secretary Neal McCaleb and former Interior Secretary Gale Norton.

Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund suit, urged the judge to hold Griles accountable for his actions. But in response, Sandra Spooner, a former Department of Justice attorney, says Griles' work on the case should be used as a "mitigating factor" in determining a sentence [PDF: Letter].

The sentencing takes place at 3pm in Courtroom 14 of the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C.

Get the Story:
Griles Faces Sentencing in Abramoff Case (AP 6/26)
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Griles merits leniency, ex-officials say (The Los Angeles Times 6/24)
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Selected Letters:
Elouise Cobell | Bill Anoatubby | Jim Cason | Donald Hodel | Neal McCaleb | Gale Norton | Ross Swimmer

More Letters:
Exhibit Volume 1 (PDF 266 pages)

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