Facing charges, Griles resigns from lobbying firm

Thursday, January 18, 2007  

J. Steven Griles, the former deputy secretary of the Interior Department who is facing charges for the Jack Abramoff scandal, resigned from the lobbying firm he started after leaving the Bush administration.

Griles resigned from Lundquist, Nethercutt & Griles on January 10, The Legal Times reported. That was the same day news reports said he was informed that he might face charges for lying to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and for fraud.

At issue is whether he gave special access to Abramoff's tribal clients and whether he had been offered a job at Abramoff's former law firm. Griles denied doing anything to benefit Abramoff's clients and said he didn't actively seek a job with Abramoff.

After leaving Interior, Griles represented the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma and the Confederated Colville Tribes of Washington on mining and environmental issues. According to Senate lobbying reports, the Quapaws have paid his firm around $80,000 since 2005. The Colvilles paid around $60,000 [>Records].

Throughout this time, Griles has been dating Sue Ellen Wooldridge, a former top lawyer at Interior and the Justice Department. In her positions, she defended Interior in a trust mismanagement lawsuit filed by the Quapaw Tribe. She resigned amid reports that Griles might face charges.

Get the Story:
Lobbying Firm Cuts Ties to Name Partner Under Investigation in Abramoff Probe (The Legal Times 1/18)

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