White House launches internal ethics inquiry into Rove's aide

The folks around Karl Rove are on the hot seat again. The White House has launched an internal ethics inquiry into one Rove aide in response to new e-mails showing that Rove's office had far more extensive conduct with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff than previously acknowledged...

Susan Ralston, may have violated a White House ban on accepting gifts worth more than $20 from lobbyists. At the same time, Ralston—who previously worked for Abramoff—was helping the lobbyist and his associates set up meetings with Rove and providing them with inside info about presidential appointments and White House decision making, including at least one matter relating to a business deal in Iraq for an Abramoff client, the e-mails show. Ralston also discussed future business opportunities with Abramoff, such as her plan to help him capitalize on the "rush to get lucrative government contracts" being awarded by the Department of Homeland Security—another possible breach of ethics rules.

The e-mails show Ralston peppering Abramoff with requests for small perks and favors. "Can we get the row A seats for the 12/22 Caps game?" she asked Abramoff in a Dec. 22, 2001, e-mail about an upcoming Washington Capitals hockey game. "Need 4 for O's on 8/23 and 4 for Springsteen if possible," she wrote the lobbyist on July 26, 2002. Ralston's lawyer declined to comment.

A former associate said Ralston may argue that though she apparently never paid for any of the tickets, she did not violate the ethics rules because of an exemption for officials who have a "pre-existing" and personal relationship with the lobbyist. "She was not looking at him as a lobbyist," said the former associate, who asked not to be identified because of political sensitivities. "She was looking at him as a friend."

The e-mails show Rove's then chief political deputy, Ken Mehlman, now chairman of the Republican National Committee, had his own repeated contacts with Abramoff—in stark contrast to previous public statements...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15081799/site/newsweek

UPDATE: October 6, 2006 (Washington, DC) - A key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove resigned Friday after a congressional report showed she had extensive contacts with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and accepted tickets to sporting events and concerts from him.

Susan Ralston, a special assistant to President Bush who used to work for Abramoff, submitted her resignation less than five weeks before congressional elections in which corruption and scandal are emerging as major issues.

Critics have pointed to Ralston as evidence that Rove — and thus Bush — are possibly closer to Abramoff than the White House has acknowledged.