Bush domestic policy adviser charged with thefts

Claude Allen:
was considered a rising Republican star

US President George W Bush's former political adviser has been charged with stealing more than US$5,000 from department stores.

Claude Allen resigned abruptly as his domestic policy adviser last month.

Allen, 45, has denied at least 25 thefts from Target and Hecht's stores.

The scam allegedly involved Allen claiming refunds for merchandise that he did not buy.

Allen was arrested on Thursday (9 March 2006) by police in Montgomery County, Maryland, following an investigation into an alleged incident at the Target store in Gaithersburg, Maryland on 2 January.

A Target employee said he saw Allen put items in an empty Target bag, which he then took to the refund desk with a receipt, and claimed money back, according to a police statement.

He was credited more than $5,000 to his credit card through similar transactions at other shops, police said.

'Misunderstanding'
Allen reported the 2 January incident to White House staff the next day, saying it was a misunderstanding related to his credit cards, a White House spokesman said.

"He assured them that he had done nothing wrong and the matter would be cleared up," the spokesman said.

Allen, a lawyer born in Philadelphia, was promoted to White House domestic policy adviser in early 2005, having been the No 2 official at the health and human services department.

Appeals court nominee
President Bush had nominated him in 2003 for a seat on the Fourth US Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia, but withdrew him because of political opposition.

Allen resigned suddenly on 9 February, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Copyright 2003-2006 Azlan Adnan Legal Notice