Another guilty plea from Republican organization

Monday, July 16, 2007  

The vice president of a Republican environmental group that was founded by former Interior Secretary Gale Norton has pleaded guilty to tax evasion.

Jared Carpenter admitted to failing to pay taxes on his income from the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy. He faces up to five years in prison and a $25,000 fine, and he must pay $74,241 in back taxes.

CREA was founded by Norton and Republican anti-tax activist Grover Norquist. Its president was Italia Federici, a former associate of Norton who recently pleaded guilty to obstruction of Congress and tax evasion.

Federici acted as a go-between for convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and J. Steven Griles, the former deputy secretary at the Interior Department. Norton continued to defend Griles even after he pleaded guilty for lying to Congress about his relationship with Abramoff.

Get the Story:
Abramoff investigation leads to another guilty plea (The Hill 7/14)

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