Former Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton is urging a federal judge in Washington to show leniency in sentencing her former top deputy, but leaders of Indian and environmental organizations want J. Steven Griles to be given a stiff sentence for his crimes.
Once described by GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff as "our guy" at the Interior Department, Griles pleaded guilty in March to lying to Senate investigators as they looked into the scandal surrounding Abramoff. Abramoff pleaded guilty last year to a scheme of fraud and tax evasion.
Griles, Norton's chief deputy from 2001 to 2005, admitted that he lied when he told Senate investigators and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in 2005 that Abramoff had no special access to his office. Abramoff had "instant and continued access to Griles" upon meeting him and forcefully sought assistance from the Interior Department for the tribes he represented, according to court documents.
Griles also admitted to not fully disclosing his romantic relationship with Italia Federici, a Republican environmental lobbyist who worked for Abramoff and introduced him to Griles.
Griles, 59, a former coal mining executive who lives in Virginia, could get up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is to be sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle.
Norton said in a letter on his behalf: "I sincerely hope the court will take Steve's dedicated and distinguished career of public service into account in considering his case." Giles served two stints in the Interior Department, the first during the Reagan administration.
Norton said Griles had made "personal sacrifices" and pursued "the idealistic path" when he returned to government rather than reaping financial rewards as a lobbyist.
She also praised his efforts on complicated environmental issues and problems with a huge government trust fund. The trust fund is the subject of litigation alleging that Indians have been cheated of billions of dollars in gas, oil and timber royalties on their land.
Several other former Interior Department officials, Republican Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter of Idaho and Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) are among 90 other people who have submitted letters on Griles' behalf.
Native American and environmental organizations have taken sharp exception to the assertion that Griles should be given a break.
