White House aide to Rove resigns

Abramoff bruhaha getting up close and personal with Rove.

White House aide to Rove resigns - Yahoo! News:

WASHINGTON - The latest casualty in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal was a key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove who once worked for the disgraced influence-peddler.

Susan Ralston stepped down Friday from her post as a special assistant to President Bush. A congressional report showed she had extensive contacts with Abramoff and had accepted tickets to sporting events and concerts from him.

Corruption and scandal are major issues going into the Nov. 7 elections. Ralston's resignation followed accusations that her contacts with Abramoff showed he was closer to Rove and Bush than the White House has been willing to acknowledge.

'She recognized that a protracted discussion of these matters would be a distraction to the White House and she's chosen to step down,' deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino said.