Rove Aide's Name Appears in Two Washington Inquiries - NYT

[VolcanoJen]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/politics/27aide.html

Excerpt:

By ANNE E. KORNBLUT
Published: October 27, 2005

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 - At the nexus of two high-profile investigations roiling the nation's capital is an unlikely - and largely anonymous - figure known for fiercely safeguarding her bosses.

Susan B. Ralston, 38, has worked as an assistant and side-by-side adviser to Karl Rove since 2001, helping manage his e-mail, meetings and phone calls from her perch near his office in the West Wing. That has made her an important witness in the C.I.A. leak investigation, as the special prosecutor has sought to determine whether Mr. Rove misled investigators about his contacts with reporters about Valerie Wilson, the undercover operative whose identity was made public in 2003.

Ms. Ralston is also entangled in another political scandal: the case of Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist, who employed her in the same frontline capacity during a stretch of time that is now under criminal investigation.

Ms. Ralston is not considered a suspect in either case, and several close colleagues say it is by sheer accident that she has been swept up in both investigations. Lawyers involved with the two cases say no other person besides Ms. Ralston has played a pivotal role in each one. She has appeared at critical junctures in both: it was Ms. Ralston who patched through a phone call from Matt Cooper, the reporter for Time magazine, to Mr. Rove on the day in July 2003 that they discussed Mrs. Wilson, then known by her maiden name, Valerie Plame. And Ms. Ralston, while in Mr. Abramoff's employ, drafted a memorandum about his suites at local arenas, which he used to entertain clients and public officials who have since gotten in trouble for accepting his favors.

[opihimoimoi]

1. Only Time will give us a Clearer Picture, but, poor thing, on the hot seat

Rove and Crew are Sweating a Katrina FLOOD.....

[Toots]

6. Poor thing indeed

She chose to bed down with vipers and I am sure agrees with all they do. I have no sympathy. Wipe out the entire nest of the poisonous creatures..

[Kukesa]

7. "Bed down with vipers"

Wow, what an image that congers.

I have no sympathy, either.

[hang a left]

2. Yeah....what a coincidence.

:rollseyes:

[Judi Lynn]

3. Rove Aide's Name Appears in Two Washington Inquiries

Rove Aide's Name Appears in Two Washington Inquiries

By ANNE E. KORNBLUT
Published: October 27, 2005
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 - At the nexus of two high-profile investigations roiling the nation's capital is an unlikely - and largely anonymous - figure known for fiercely safeguarding her bosses.

Susan B. Ralston, 38, has worked as an assistant and side-by-side adviser to Karl Rove since 2001, helping manage his e-mail, meetings and phone calls from her perch near his office in the West Wing. That has made her an important witness in the C.I.A. leak investigation, as the special prosecutor has sought to determine whether Mr. Rove misled investigators about his contacts with reporters about Valerie Wilson, the undercover operative whose identity was made public in 2003.

Ms. Ralston is also entangled in another political scandal: the case of Jack Abramoff, the Republican lobbyist, who employed her in the same frontline capacity during a stretch of time that is now under criminal investigation.

Ms. Ralston is not considered a suspect in either case, and several close colleagues say it is by sheer accident that she has been swept up in both investigations. Lawyers involved with the two cases say no other person besides Ms. Ralston has played a pivotal role in each one. She has appeared at critical junctures in both: it was Ms. Ralston who patched through a phone call from Matt Cooper, the reporter for Time magazine, to Mr. Rove on the day in July 2003 that they discussed Mrs. Wilson, then known by her maiden name, Valerie Plame. And Ms. Ralston, while in Mr. Abramoff's employ, drafted a memorandum about his suites at local arenas, which he used to entertain clients and public officials who have since gotten in trouble for accepting his favors.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/politics/27aide.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1130407495-Vjse3SO1T1OC3Aa0h/A+bA

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. This gal sure gets around

n/t

[cassiepriam]

5. Just like dear Judy... how very interesting....

[Lochloosa]

8. I don't think she is in the clear....read this

Abramoff's White House Connections

In addition to Safavian, Abramoff is known to have close ties to at least one other key White House official: Susan B. Ralston, Karl Rove's omnipresent assistant and gatekeeper.

Here's Peter H. Stone writing in the National Journal last year: "As presidential adviser Karl Rove set up shop in the West Wing in 2001, he was looking for an assistant to serve as the trusted gatekeeper of his new fiefdom. Superlobbyist and Republican fundraiser Jack Abramoff was happy to lend a hand. Abramoff knew just the right person for the job: his own assistant, Susan Ralston. She interviewed with Rove and got the position."

Ralston told Filipinas magazine last year: "Working for Karl Rove is like being at the center of the Bush universe -- I am fortunate to be where I am, and be involved in much of what goes on at the White House."

Ralston was in the news most recently for being summoned to testify in July before the grand jury investigating the leak of the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Rove, of course, is one of the central figures in that investigation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2005/09/20/BL2005092000753_pf.html

[alarcojon]

9. Background people like this

are probably more likely to turn than the big turd blossoms. She's worked for Rove long enough to know that he'll sell her down the river if he has to.

[Supersedeas]

10. Sue Ralston will forever been associated with Dirty Politics

[goforit]

11. Abramhof connected to Rove....OUCH! (Mob-Money laudering-murder)

I love this quote!!!

"...several close colleagues say it is by sheer accident that she has been swept up in both investigations."