Since the feds asked for house arrest and the Judge gave Federici 2.5 months in a halfway house, I think the Judge had a bit of a different view of her.

Her lawyer painted her as a victim of greedy, powerful men. The Judge asked:

How, the judge asked, could Federici have not been suspicious? While Federici was serving as Abramoff's go-between, his Indian clients were largely funding her nonprofit organization, the Council of Republicans for Environmental Advocacy.

Norton's Deputy Secrectary of the Interior Steven Griles is already serving a 10 year sentence for his part in the scandal.

So, who is Federici cooperating against? It's unknown, but there are rumors.....

People close to the case have said Federici may be able to provide information about former Interior Secretary Norton, other Bush administration officials and members of Congress.

Norton took a job with Shell Oil after she resigned as Secretary of the Interior in 2006.

TalkLeft has some background on the Federici-Griles-Norton connection here and here.

Meanwhile, Jack Abramoff is still collecting cooperation points. I wonder if he will get a reduction to time served by the time the Government is done.

[to be cross-posted at 5280.com]