Former Gregg Staffer Is Linked to Abramoff Scandal

Susan Davis reports on politics. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs downplayed a reported link between a former aide to Sen. Judd Gregg –President Barack Obama ’s nominee for commerce secretary–and the schemes of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff . “I know that the secretary-designate is not a target or a subject of any of the investigations about an employee that I think left his office in 2004,” Gibbs said today when asked about the link. “This obviously is somebody who’s left his employment quite some time ago.” The Associated Press reported today that Kevin Koonce , a former legislative director for Gregg, was identified as “Staffer F” in recent court documents related to the Abramoff scandal. Koonce allegedly took sporting tickets and other gifts valued at $10,000 in exchange for legislative favors. Koonce left Gregg’s office four years ago, and has not been charged with a crime. There is no indication that Gregg had any involvement in the schemes, and ... (link)