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Former top Bush aide arrested for theft

March 11, 2006 02:29 AM / Bush Leagues .

President Bush's Domestic Policy Advisor, who resigned last month with the standard "I want to spend more time with my family" excuse, is charged with trying to defraud two Washington stores in an elaborate refund scheme.

Reports Ernesto Londoño and Michael A. Fletcher in The Washington Post:

Claude A. Allen, who resigned last month as President Bush's top domestic policy adviser, was arrested this week in Montgomery County for allegedly swindling Target and Hecht's stores out of more than $5,000 in a refund scheme, police said.

Allen, 45, of Gaithersburg, has been released on his own recognizance and is awaiting trial on two charges, felony theft scheme and theft over $500, said Lt. Eric Burnett, a police spokesman. Each charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Allen could not be reached for comment last night.

His attorney, Mallon Snyder, said last night that his client denies wrongdoing. The lawyer disputed the police account of Allen's actions. "It's his reputation. Obviously, he's very concerned about it," Snyder said.

Snyder said he feels confident that Allen will be able to prove that the incidents were "a series of misunderstandings."

Allen, a former deputy secretary in the Department of Health and Human Services, was nominated in 2003 to a federal appeals court seat. He was appointed the president's top domestic policy adviser last year at the start of Bush's second term. That made him the highest-ranking African American on the White House staff.

Working out of a small office on the second floor of the West Wing, Allen shaped administration policy on such issues as health care, space exploration, housing and education.

He came to the attention of Montgomery police after a manager at a Gaithersburg Target store called the department about an incident Jan. 2. Montgomery detectives were able to document other alleged crimes from Oct. 29 to Jan. 2, some of which were captured on camera, Burnett said.

Allen resigned from the White House on Feb. 9, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family

In a statement that day, Bush said: "Claude is a good and compassionate man, and he has my deep respect and gratitude. I thank him for his many years of principled and dedicated service to our country."

Comments

Just publicly hang this piece of sh*t!!!

On prime time TV!!!

We'll start with him and move on to the rest!

I've about had enough.

Posted by bobediah bobson at March 11, 2006 02:59 AM

If you have reproduced the whole article, I think the reporters were remiss in not providing a little more detail on how the scheme worked.

Posted by spiiderweb at March 11, 2006 03:23 AM

Spiderweb:

The link in the story will take you to the full story on the Washington Post web site.

Doug

Posted by Doug Thompson at March 11, 2006 04:31 AM

Why didn't they protect him? There have been much worse crimes committed by members of this administration that have been covered up. Funny that he probably thought they would protect him.

Posted by rickrocket at March 11, 2006 09:35 AM

Why am I not surprised? What a dumb thing to attempt. The stupidity of this administration is exceeded only by it's total dishonesty.

Posted by Bert Stanley at March 11, 2006 10:27 AM

STOP!!!

Don't be so quick to rush to judgement based on what the lying (owned) media reports. I thought you all knew better than that???

He resigned from Bush. NO ONE RESIGNS TO SPEND MORE TME WITH THEIR FAMILY!!! How do the bills get paid for the FAMILY??? Why don't we all RESIGN our jobs to spend more time with our family? Sure we would love to, but we know that is a ridiculous idea.

This man is MUCH TOO YOUNG to think of resigning from such a high paying and prestigious job. THINK!!!

He HAD to be discredited, he probably resigned because he knew what Bush is up to and disagreed. This made him a loose cannon and possible whistle-blower. BETTER TO DISCREDIT HIM FIRST!

Sure, the guy resigned to spend more time with his family. How GULLIBLE are we anyway?

Posted by The Watchman at March 11, 2006 02:43 PM

When will Bush be arrested for raiding our treasury for corporate profits?

I say abolish the Presidency, it is archaic. All we need is a well dressed charming greeter.

The "New World Order" rises or falls on the POWER of the MONOTHEISTIC IMPULSE toward submission to a Central, One, AUTHORITY, the killer elite!

Posted by checkers at March 11, 2006 03:03 PM

He wants to "spend more time with his family" because he won't be able to when he's in jail.

Posted by smskater at March 11, 2006 05:03 PM

Looking at the particulars in this case,I have to agree with the Watchman's assessment.It's definitely a good idea to withhold judgement on this.After all,look at how "good ol'Brownies'"stock has gone up after deciding to defend himself in the public forum.

Posted by Ed at March 11, 2006 06:24 PM

Let's see he gets caught in January, resigns in February and the facts are reported in March.

Now, what's with that?

Posted by camus at March 11, 2006 07:43 PM

OUR HEADLINES READ "FORMER BUSH AIDE CHARGED WITH SHOPLIFTING" IT MADE ALLENS CRIME SOUND MUNDANE AND TRIVIAL...IT COULD HAVE & SHOULD HAVE READ "FORMER BUSH AIDE CHARGED WITH GRAND THEFT FRAUD"

Posted by JUDY BODNAR at March 13, 2006 12:48 PM

Former top Bush aide arrested for theft

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