Italia Federici
Encyclopedia
Italia Federici the former president of the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy
(CREA). Federici was also a political aide to Secretary of the Interior
and CREA co-founder Gale Norton
. She pleaded guilty in June 2007 to tax evasion
and obstructing the United States Senate
investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
and was sentenced to four years probation.
president Grover Norquist
, a college friend of Abramoff, in 1997 with money Federici inherited; The organization was also funded by, and supported the goals of, mining and other industries.
to Deputy Secretary of the Interior J. Steven Griles in March 2001, just before Griles started at the Department of the Interior. Abramoff donated more than $400,000 to CREA, after which time she allegedly began using her connections with Griles to influence him to make decisions beneficial to Abramoff's tribal benefactors.
In emails, Abramoff claimed that "she is critical" to his work with the Department of Interior
, especially with regards to preventing the Jena Band of Choctaws Indian Tribe from creating a casino, that would take money away from one of Abramoff's "core tribes". A February 18, 2003, email from Abramoff to Federici said "...This will be a PR
disaster as you can imagine, especially if for some reason Interior agrees to approve this deal. McCrery and Vitter (the other R's in the delegation) are furious beyond belief. This is going to get really ugly. Please let Steve know about this. Thanks so much Italia!". The email referred to Griles, who is reported to have been romantically connected to Federici.
Federici also pleaded guilty to failure to file tax returns from 2001 - 2003; Furthermore, she did not pay income tax
from 2001 through 2003.
In December 2007, Federici was sentenced to four years probation, and $77,243 in restitution of back taxes.
Despite being a convicted felon and admitted tax evader, Federici continues her energy policy career. Her most recent article excoriating "The Left" on their drilling policies appeared in the Climate Depot project of CFACT, an organization supported by pro-development donors.
Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy
Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy is a Republican environmental organization founded in 1998 by Gale Norton, who in 2001 became George W. Bush's U.S. Secretary of the Interior...
(CREA). Federici was also a political aide to Secretary of the Interior
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior.The US Department of the Interior should not be confused with the concept of Ministries of the Interior as used in other countries...
and CREA co-founder Gale Norton
Gale Norton
Gale Ann Norton served as the 48th United States Secretary of the Interior from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush...
. She pleaded guilty in June 2007 to tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
and obstructing the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
investigation into the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
and was sentenced to four years probation.
Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy
Federici founded CREA with Norton and Americans for Tax ReformAmericans for Tax Reform
Americans for Tax Reform is an advocacy group and taxpayer group whose stated goal is "a system in which taxes are simpler, flatter, more visible, and lower than they are today. The government's power to control one's life derives from its power to tax...
president Grover Norquist
Grover Norquist
Grover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
, a college friend of Abramoff, in 1997 with money Federici inherited; The organization was also funded by, and supported the goals of, mining and other industries.
Abramoff involvement
Federici introduced Jack AbramoffJack Abramoff
Jack Abramoff is an American former lobbyist and businessman. Convicted in 2006 of mail fraud and conspiracy, he was at the heart of an extensive corruption investigation that led to the conviction of White House officials J. Steven Griles and David Safavian, U.S. Representative Bob Ney, and nine...
to Deputy Secretary of the Interior J. Steven Griles in March 2001, just before Griles started at the Department of the Interior. Abramoff donated more than $400,000 to CREA, after which time she allegedly began using her connections with Griles to influence him to make decisions beneficial to Abramoff's tribal benefactors.
In emails, Abramoff claimed that "she is critical" to his work with the Department of Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
, especially with regards to preventing the Jena Band of Choctaws Indian Tribe from creating a casino, that would take money away from one of Abramoff's "core tribes". A February 18, 2003, email from Abramoff to Federici said "...This will be a PR
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
disaster as you can imagine, especially if for some reason Interior agrees to approve this deal. McCrery and Vitter (the other R's in the delegation) are furious beyond belief. This is going to get really ugly. Please let Steve know about this. Thanks so much Italia!". The email referred to Griles, who is reported to have been romantically connected to Federici.
Federici also pleaded guilty to failure to file tax returns from 2001 - 2003; Furthermore, she did not pay income tax
Income tax
An income tax is a tax levied on the income of individuals or businesses . Various income tax systems exist, with varying degrees of tax incidence. Income taxation can be progressive, proportional, or regressive. When the tax is levied on the income of companies, it is often called a corporate...
from 2001 through 2003.
In December 2007, Federici was sentenced to four years probation, and $77,243 in restitution of back taxes.
Despite being a convicted felon and admitted tax evader, Federici continues her energy policy career. Her most recent article excoriating "The Left" on their drilling policies appeared in the Climate Depot project of CFACT, an organization supported by pro-development donors.
External links
- Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy
- Six Lies and Videotape, GOPUSA - Article by Federici, herself, written to announce CREA's latest anti-environmentalist video.
- An e-mail trail of money and influence, The Christian Science MonitorThe Christian Science MonitorThe Christian Science Monitor is an international newspaper published daily online, Monday to Friday, and weekly in print. It was started in 1908 by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist. As of 2009, the print circulation was 67,703.The CSM is a newspaper that covers...
, January 12, 2006. - CREW DEMANDS FEDERICI BE REFERRED TO DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR PERJURY INVESTIGATION - Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in WashingtonCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in WashingtonCitizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington is a nonprofit 501 organization that describes itself as "dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government and public life by targeting government officials – regardless of party affiliation – who sacrifice the common good to...
- Email records between Italia Federici and Jack Abramoff from the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
- The greening of Italia Federici, salon.comSalon.comSalon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
, November 18, 2005. - Abramoff Witness Frustrates Panel, washingtonpost.com, November 18, 2005.
- Casino Bid Prompted High-Stakes Lobbying, washingtonpost.com, March 13, 2005.