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Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: CYBERKEN who wrote (13902)	10/28/2006 10:59:52 PM
From: Mr. Palau	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

sounds like its not over yet "Rogich linked to all players but Mazzeo GOP political guru key player in scandal By MOLLY BALL REVIEW-JOURNAL Sig Rogich Political consultant calls claims by Chrissy Mazzeo "pathetic allegations" If Chrissy Mazzeo is to be believed, her claims appear to point to a wide-ranging attempted cover-up centering around Republican political guru Sig Rogich, one of the most powerful figures in Nevada, and national, politics. Rogich was having dinner with Republican gubernatorial nominee Jim Gibbons and campaign donors on the evening of Oct. 13, when Mazzeo would eventually call 911 to claim Gibbons had assaulted her in a parking garage. Advertisement Rogich and Gibbons say they came into the bar area of McCormick & Schmick's restaurant because both were on foot and it was raining outside after the dinner ended and the donors left. In the crowded bar, they joined two women whom Rogich knew at a table. They were then joined by Mazzeo and her friend Pennie Puhek, who Mazzeo now alleges pressured and threatened her into dropping her complaint against Gibbons. Mazzeo claims Puhek was acting on behalf of Gibbons' camp. Rogich, a man with many connections, is connected to nearly everyone involved in the increasingly baroque scandal. He is a campaign adviser to Gibbons, occasionally speaking publicly on Gibbons' behalf but more often working behind the scenes producing television commercials and raising money. His work on behalf of the current Republican governor, Kenny Guinn, is largely credited with Guinn's success in winning his first elected office. Rogich helped run Clark County Sheriff Bill Young's campaign for office four years ago. Young, a Republican, has endorsed Gibbons. Rogich has acknowledged talking about the charges with Young while the investigation was still open on Oct. 14. Young has acknowledged being the first to inform Gibbons of the allegations, an action that has been called improper. It was a Rogich connection that brought Mazzeo and Puhek to the table. Rogich knew the two women at the table, attorney Georganne Bradley and legal secretary Michelle Deigel, because they work at a firm that shares office space with Rogich's company, located in the same complex as the restaurant, the parking garage and the hotel where Gibbons was staying. Puhek and Mazzeo came to the table because Puhek recognized Gibbons, but they stayed because Puhek and Deigel realized they'd gone to high school together, according to statements both women have signed. Mazzeo now alleges Puhek told her she was relaying statements from Deigel when Puhek pressured Mazzeo to drop the charges. Mazzeo also noted Deigel's connection to Rogich. And Rogich was the one who hired a private investigator to look into Mazzeo's background when the news of the allegations broke, according to the investigator, David Groover. Groover then brought in local attorney Don Campbell, now serving as Gibbons' counsel in the matter, when the investigator was contacted by a lawyer for Mazzeo. At her news conference Wednesday addressing the incident publicly for the first time, Mazzeo referred to Rogich as "Sig whatever-his-last-name-is." In political circles, however, that rarely happens. Rogich, 62, managed George H.W. Bush's presidential campaigns, one winning, one losing, and was for a time Bush's ambassador to Iceland. He has signed on to raise large amounts of money for Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain's bid for the presidency in 2008. Rogich on Wednesday said he emphatically denied being part of any cover-up. He also said he was never contacted or interviewed by police in connection with the incident. Mazzeo's lawyer has suggested he should have been as a potential witness. "To say the least, I am truly appalled by what Ms. Mazzeo had to say today and don't wish to add any more to what has stemmed from these sad and pathetic allegations," Rogich said in a statement. "I would welcome a full investigation pertaining to the events that I was familiar with and am more than willing to take a polygraph test if it is warranted," he said.