Cobell calls attention to Griles' lack of candor

Thursday, June 21, 2007  

Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in the Indian trust fund lawsuit, has submitted a letter to the judge who will sentence J. Steven Griles, the former deputy secretary at the Interior Department.

Griles pleaded guilty to lying to Senate Indian Affairs Committee about convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Cobell said his behaviors in that case were similar to his handling of the trust fund debacle.

"There is an ominous parallel between questionable comments he made in our litigation and the false statement he has acknowledged making about his relationship with Mr. Jack A. Abramoff," Cobell wrote.

Cobell drew attention to a June 2002 sworn declaration in which Griles accused a court officer of impropriety. But Judge Royce Lamberth, who has since been removed from the case, found that Griles exhibited "an alarming lack of candor and [came] perilously close to perjury by omission."

"The comments of Judge Lamberth should have been a clarion call to Mr. Griles to be candid and straightforward in sworn testimony and public statements," Cobell noted. "The fact that he is before you shows that he ignored that clear warning in 2002," Cobell told Judge Ellen Huvelle.

Griles is due to be sentenced next Tuesday. Federal prosecutors are recommending a 10-month "split" sentence -- half in prison and half in home confinement -- plus a $250,000 fine. His lawyers are seeking community service and a lesser fine.

Cobell Letter:
Re: James Steven Griles (June 20, 2007)

Related Stories:
Gaming not on Griles radar at Interior (6/20)
Griles denies hiding Abramoff ties from investigation (6/20)
Ex-DOJ official who backed Griles up for Senate (6/20)
Opinion: Griles did the crime but not the time (6/20)
Norton gave Griles credit for trust reform task force (6/19)
Neal McCaleb defends former DOI colleague (6/18)
Griles set for sentencing in Abramoff scandal (6/18)
Italia Federici set for guilty plea for Abramoff (06/08)
Abramoff investigators want dirt on Norton (06/07)
Italia Federici to plead guilty in Abramoff probe (06/06)
Griles marries former DOJ official after guilty plea (04/20)
Griles' seat on federal commission goes unfilled (4/9)
Norton associate faces charges in Abramoff scandal (4/5)
Former girlfriend of Griles a target of investigation (4/3)
House hearing on Lumbee, Virginia recognition (4/2)
Editorial: Griles deserves tougher prison sentence (4/2)
The downfall of J. Steven Griles (3/26)
J. Steven Griles pleads guilty for lying about Abramoff (3/23)
Griles shares two homes with former DOJ official (02/15)
Legal Times: Griles hid romance from investigators (2/6)
Abramoff's old law firm defending Griles (1/25)
Facing charges, Griles resigns from lobbying firm (1/18)
Facing charges, Griles steps down from federal panel (1/16)
Griles told of likely prosecution over Abramoff (1/11)
Griles a target of Abramoff investigation (1/10)
Griles said to be under scrutiny in Abramoff probe (11/15)
Abramoff to report to prison as probe gets hotter (11/14)
Abramoff scandal leaves reforms to tribes, not Congress (6/23)
Norton protected Griles after $1M investigation (09/14)
Wayne Smith fingers Griles as Abramoff 'point man' (6/22)
Abramoff White House visit coincides with Griles meeting (05/11)
Tribes, states weigh lawsuits against oil companies (5/8)
Norton denies fraud or major problem with trust (3/29)
GAO report warns of billions in lost oil, gas royalties (3/29)
Norton denies Abramoff played a role in resignation (03/13)
Tribes, states object to Interior's lack of audits (03/01)
Pombo starts investigation of DOI royalty program (2/16)
Bush, Democrats oppose $7B royalty giveaway (2/15)
Interior to give away $7B in oil and gas royalties (2/14)
Oil companies fall behind on royalty payments (2/10)
Griles trying hard to avoid Abramoff indictment (02/08)
Griles arranged for Norton photo with Abramoff (01/30)
Griles denies doing favors for Abramoff, tribes (01/09)
In the Loop: Griles attended DOI's Christmas party (12/16)
Norton refutes alleged influence of Abramoff (12/15)
Watchdog group sues DOI over Abramoff documents (12/07)
McCain expects 'lots' of indictments in Abramoff case (12/05)
Dorgan vows to continue Abramoff lobbying probe (11/29)
Griles intervened in Coushatta leadership dispute (11/29)
Inside the BIA, according to Jack Abramoff (11/23)
Plea deal cites members of Congress and another tribe (11/22)
Scanlon free after guilty plea in tribal lobbying scheme (11/22)
Charges laid against Scanlon in tribal lobbying probe (11/21)
Senate committee to continue Abramoff investigation (11/18)
Salon: Italia Federici a 'minor' Republican player (11/18)
Campbell denies relationship with Italia Federici (11/18)
Audio: Italia Federici testifies before Senate panel (11/17)
Opinion: Something creepy about Federici's CREA (11/16)
Opinion: Griles' role in lobbying scandal still a mystery (11/14)
C-SPAN Moment: Putting the screws to Steve Griles (11/11)
Senate panel sets hearing for Italia Federici (11/09)
Column: Where in the world is Italia Federici? (11/07)
Editorial: Steve Griles and the revolving door (11/04)
Griles, Rossetti to testify on Coushatta Tribe (11/02)
Griles called to testify on Abramoff scandal (11/01)
Norton associate to testify at Abramoff hearing (10/28)
Interior drawn into Senate committee's lobbying probe (10/26)
Abramoff tried to hire Griles at lobbying firm (08/29)
Gaming leads to new concerns about lobbyists (05/26)
Meskwakis gave $50K to group founded by Norton (04/22)
Griles fought casino opposed by Abramoff's clients (03/14)
Tribe gave $75K to group founded by Norton (03/14)
DOI investigates contacts with group started by Norton (03/03)
Report: Former Norton organization subpoenaed (3/1)
Tribes gave $175K to group founded by Norton (2/28)
Bush nominates replacement for Griles at Interior (02/09)
In the Loop: Griles forms new lobbying partnership (01/31)
Editorial: Good riddance to J. Steven Griles (12/20)
Norton to remain on job for second Bush term (12/10)
Top Interior official resigns from Bush administration (12/08)
Griles blames controversies on Bush opponents (12/08)
Report blames lax culture for Griles ethical 'train wreck' (03/17)