Posted on 03/11/2006 4:37:42 PM PST by blam
Bush adviser charged with thefts
Claude Allen was considered a rising Republican star
US President George W Bush's former political adviser has been charged with stealing more than $5,000 (£2,900) from department stores. The president said he was "shocked" and "sad" on hearing the news about Claude Allen, who resigned abruptly as his domestic policy adviser last month.
Mr Allen, 45, has denied at least 25 thefts from Target and Hecht's stores.
The scam allegedly involved Mr Allen claiming refunds for merchandise that he did not buy.
Mr Allen was arrested on Thursday by police in Montgomery County, Maryland, following an investigation into an alleged incident at the Target store in Gaithersburg, Maryland on 2 January.
Appeals court nominee
A Target employee said he saw Mr Allen put items in an empty Target bag, which he then took to the refund desk with a receipt, and claimed money back, Reuters said, citing a police statement.
He was credited more than $5,000 to his credit card through similar transactions at other shops, police said.
Mr Allen reported the 2 January incident to White House staff the next day, saying it was a misunderstanding related to his credit cards, a White House spokesman said.
"He assured them that he had done nothing wrong and the matter would be cleared up," the spokesman said.
Mr Allen, a lawyer born in Philadelphia, was promoted to White House domestic policy adviser in early 2005, having been the No 2 official at the health and human services department.
Mr Bush had nominated him in 2003 for a seat on the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia, but withdrew him because of political opposition.
'Misunderstanding'
"When I heard the story last night, I was shocked, and my first reaction was one of disappointment, deep disappointment - if it's true - that we were not fully informed," Mr Bush said on Saturday.
"Shortly thereafter, I felt really sad for the Allen family."
"If the allegations are true, something went wrong in Claude Allen's life, and that is really sad."
Mr Allen resigned suddenly on 9 February, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Mallon Snyder, a lawyer for Mr Allen, called the arrest and charges "a misunderstanding", and said he wanted to meet Target investigators to clear things up.
This is really weird.
Yep, it sure is, but what Pi$$e$ me off, is that the BBC
thinks they have to stick their nose in this business.
A conservative male version of winona rider I guess.
Wait, in that pic it looks like the Prez's wristwatch is missing from his wrist!! Now I think I know where it is...in that other dude's pocket.
It's been on CNN all day long.
Little different from a common booster.
I expect the media are dispatching every investigator they've got to look into Allen's past. If there's anything else, it will be broadcast 24/7. If he were not Republican and on the Bush team, this would have been completely ignored.
This story is bizarre. The guy had so much going on and so much to lose.
"It's been on CNN all day long."
...just like the Clinton RAPE case!
Singularly deficient in self governance!
Huh? CNN ignored that story. Over on the networks, they dragged their heels as long as they could, then barely covered it at all when the pressure forced them to at least give it token air time. Brokaw publicly vowed he would quit if it was aired. Of course, he didn't do that, did he?
AOL also has been blasting this story all day. Did AOL do it to the Clinton rape case?
And you know what else?
I'm SURE it's all BUSH'S FAULT!
(/sarcasm)
The guy throws away a promising career for $5,000? Good grief!
undoubtedly, there will be more about this than Sandy Berger's document theft, or Hillary's White House loot.
Drug habit that he needed to feed, perhaps?
Allen should have stuffed the goods in his socks and shorts. That way, he could passed himself off as a Democrat National Security advisor and nobody would suspect a thing (and the punishment if caught would be a tap on the wrist).
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