Oil lobbyist, former U.S. officials combat rumors of unethical real-estate deal
We would never engage in idle speculation about the allegedly unethical relationship between a ConocoPhillips oil lobbyist, a former U.S. Interior top dog, and the Justice Department's freshly resigned lead eco-prosecutor. But the big boys would, and we consider it our duty to share. The big boys are wondering why these three bought a $980,000 beach house together, just a few months before the prosecutor signed decrees giving the oil company more time to pay clean-up fees and to meet pollution requirements at some of its refineries. "What exactly is wrong with three close personal friends sharing a vacation/rental home?" huffed the attorney for former Interior deputy J. Steven Griles, who -- did we mention? -- is also a target in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. And is now an oil lobbyist himself. And lives with the eco-prosecutor, Sue Ellen Wooldridge. Juicy! Both Conoco and the Justice Department said the parties got ethics clearance before buying the house. Nothing to see here, folks.
We would never engage in idle speculation about the allegedly unethical relationship between a ConocoPhillips oil lobbyist, a former U.S. Interior top dog, and the Justice Department's freshly resigned lead eco-prosecutor. But the big boys would, and we consider it our duty to share. The big boys are wondering why these three bought a $980,000 beach house together, just a few months before the prosecutor signed decrees giving the oil company more time to pay clean-up fees and to meet pollution requirements at some of its refineries. "What exactly is wrong with three close personal friends sharing a vacation/rental home?" huffed the attorney for former Interior deputy J. Steven Griles, who -- did we mention? -- is also a target in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. And is now an oil lobbyist himself. And lives with the eco-prosecutor, Sue Ellen Wooldridge. Juicy! Both Conoco and the Justice Department said the parties got ethics clearance before buying the house. Nothing to see here, folks.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Philip Shenon, 15 Feb 2007
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