WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- A top aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove has become the latest casualty of the Washington lobbying scandal, resigning from her White House job.
Susan Ralston -- who once worked for disgraced former lobbyist Jack Abramoff -- quit following a Congressional report that detailed contacts between the lobbyist and the White House, The New York Times reported Friday. She was a special assistant to the president, a title she was given - -along with a significant pay raise -- after the 2004 election.
Ralston also testified before the grand jury investigating the leak of CIA agent Valerie Plame's identity. No one has accused her of misconduct, but the Congressional report said she passed messages from Rove to Abramoff -- for example that Rove needed basketball tickets.
"A protracted discussion of the report was not in anyone's best interest, and when she chose to step down, we supported her decision," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
Abramoff has pleaded guilty to corruption charges.
