Griles marries former DOJ official after guilty plea

Friday, April 20, 2007  

Former Interior Department deputy secretary J. Steven Griles married his girlfriend three days after pleading guilty to lying to Congress about his relationship with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Griles married Sue Ellen Wooldridge, a former Department of Justice official, on March, The Hill newspaper reported. Wooldridge, who used to work at Interior, left her DOJ job when reports of Griles' possible indictment surfaced.

The marriage gives Griles and Wooldridge protection from testifying against each other should that occasion arise. But an attorney for Griles denied the wedding was a strategic move.

“Steve Griles and Sue Ellen Wooldridge got married because they love each other,” the attorney told The Hill. “Any other suggestion is wrong.”

Griles admitted to lying to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee about his relationship with Abramoff.

Get the Story:
Three days after guilty plea, Griles ties the knot (The Hill 4/20)

Relevant Documents:
DOJ Press Release | Charge of Information | Plea Agreement | Statement of Facts | Earl Devaney Statement

November 2, 2005, Hearing:
Transcript | Webcast | Testimony

Cobell Declarations:
November 15, 2001 | June 4, 2002

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