Memo To The Justice Department Re: U.S. Attorney Todd Graves

Memorandum

To: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

From: Fired Up! Missouri

Date: October 6, 2005

Re: U.S. Attorney Todd Graves

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Today's NY Times indicates that federal prosecutors looking into the activities of Jack Abramoff are likely to take an interest in the transactions between the political committees of Majority Leader Roy Blunt and Rep. Tom DeLay.

From the NY Times story:

Documents unearthed this week and reported by The Associated Press and PoliticalMoneyLine, a research group, revealed fund-raising tactics used by Mr. DeLay in 2000 that could draw additional scrutiny.

The documents showed that a committee operated by Mr. DeLay for the Republicans' 2000 convention in Philadelphia diverted tens of thousands of dollars to other organizations run by the former majority leader and his allies, including Representative Roy Blunt, the Missouri Republican who assumed Mr. DeLay's duties after his indictment.

Please be advised that the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, Todd Graves, has a serious conflict of interest and should be shielded from any such inquiry as he could reasonably be expected to be compelled to appear before a grand jury on this matter.

During the 2000 election, Mr. Graves was a candidate for State Treasurer of Missouri.  On multiple occassions during his campaign, Mr. Graves was a beneficiary of the money laundering scheme that Mr. Blunt, Mr. DeLay, and Mr. Abramoff used to direct corporate contributions to the benefit of candidates for state office and other questionable activities.

On March 31 2000, The Rely On Your Beliefs Committee (ROYB), a committee controlled by Blunt,  received a $50,000 contribution from ARMPAC-Convention, a committee controlled by DeLay. 

On May 9th, 2000, ROYB made a contribution to the 7th District Congressional Republican Committee, another committee controlled by Blunt.  The 7th District committee in turn made a contribution to the campaign of Todd Graves in the amount of $5,000 on May 17, 2000.

In October 13, 2000, ROYB contributed $15,000 to the 7th District Committee.  On October 6, 2000, the 7th District Committee made a $2,000 contribution to the campaign of Todd Graves.

In addition, Graves' campaign was the beneficiary of support from the Missouri Republican Party, which received $50,000 directly from the PAC of Rep. Tom DeLay and even more indirectly, via the contributions from ROYB.

But there is an addtional conflict of interest for Mr. Graves.  Governor Matt Blunt has awarded a highly lucrative no-bid contract to Mr. Graves wife.  The revenue stream from this no-bid contract far surpasses his salary from the Department of Justice.

Please  take every precaution necessary to preserve the integrity of this investigation, and to ensure that the public has confidence that justice is being pursued in this matter.