The Senate Indian Affairs Committee on Thursday urged "appropriate authorities" to investigate Italia Federici, an associate of former Interior secretary Gale Norton who acted as a conduit between Jack Abramoff and top officials at the Interior Department.

Federici is president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy, a group that was started by Norton. CREA received a reported $500,000 from Abramoff's tribal clients.

At issue is what Federici did in exchange for the money. She is alleged to have contacted former deputy secretary J. Steven Griles about Abramoff's clients but the committee was unable to determine the full extent of her involvement.

The committee, however, said it was concerned about Federici's lack of "veracity." And the committee said it was concerned about the role Griles played, although the report didn't recommend an investigation against him.

Get the Story:
Senate panel urges probe of Interior link to Abramoff ally (The Denver Post 6/23)

Senate Indian Affairs Committee Abramoff Report: �GIMME FIVE�� INVESTIGATION OF TRIBAL LOBBYING MATTERS (June 2006)

Relevant Links:
Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy - http://www.crea-online.org/crea

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