Ginnie Kontnik, the former chief of staff for retired Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colorado), will plead guilty to taking kickbacks.
Kontnik arranged for a staffer to receive a bonus but took the money for herself. She said Campbell approved the arrangement but later backed off from the claim.
The investigation started as Campbell and his office were facing scrutiny for their role in steering a no-bid contract to a politically-connected Colorado company with ties to top Bush administration officials, including former Interior secretary Gale Norton. Campbell resigned after details about the incident started to surface.
Kontnik will enter her guilty plea on Friday but federal prosecutors won't seek any jail time for her.
Get the Story:Former Campbell aide to plead guilty (The Hill 3/20)
Ex-senator's aide to plead guilty (The Denver Post 3/20)
Charge filed against ex-Campbell aide (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 3/19) Related Stories:
Former Campbell staffer still under investigation (02/21)
Campbell's role in federal contract outlined (06/02)
Editorial: Campbell needs to tell 'the whole truth' (05/11)
Campbell pins corruption probe on former top aide (5/10)
Campbell letter pushed for award of $1.2M contract (03/18)
Campbell's office center of possible criminal probe (2/25)
Ex-aide suggests Campbell approved kickback (2/23)
