Susan Ralston
Susan Bonzon Ralston (born October 15, 1967), is public relations and business consultant. Ralston was formerly Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and a deputy to Karl Rove, the Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor at the White House, from 2001 until her resignation in 2006 after being linked to Jack Abramoff's lobbying.
Early life and education
Ralston was born in Pennsylvania to Filipino-American parents, Teotimo D. Bonzon and Purificacion Lagman Bonzon. She graduated from
Early career
Before moving to
Personal life
Ralston lives near Culpeper, Virginia with her husband Tony.[4][5]
Government career
White House
Ralston was hired in 2001 as the most senior assistant to Karl Rove. Ralston was the Special Assistant to the President and a deputy to Rove, the Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor at the White House for almost six years. She was responsible for managing the activities that comprised the Office of the Senior Advisor, including the development of policy, strategic planning, political affairs, public liaison, and intergovernmental affairs efforts of the White House. She was also responsible for the development and production of presidential and major surrogate events.
As a Filipino-American, Ralston was a member of the presidential delegation to attend the inauguration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines in June 2004.[6] She took part in a bi-partisan exchange to Vietnam in August 2003 that was organized by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL).[7]
Investigations and questioning
On July 29, 2005, Ralston testified before federal grand jury prosecutor
On January 3, 2006,
In May 2007, Ralston sought immunity before testifying in front of Representative Henry Waxman's House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. She was deposed in private before asking for immunity.
Other organizations
Ralston created SBR Enterprises in 2012. It received $300,000 in funding from the Paul E Singer Family Foundation between 2018 and 2020.[4]
In 2019 Ralston founded Citizens for Responsible Solar, which lobbies against solar power installations and spreads misinformation. Lisa Lisker is its treasurer. Ralston and others lobbied against a 1600-acre 80 megawatt solar project by BayWa near Culpeper.[4][5]
References
- ^ Nash, Phil Tajitsu (2005-12-16). "Asian Face At the White House: Ralston May Be More than a Footnote". AsianWeek. Archived from the original on April 23, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-07.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Jennie L. Ilustre (August 2004). "Susan Ralston, on Top at the White House". AsianFortune.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2004.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Asian Social Network - Your Portal to America's Asian Community
- ^ a b c Miranda Green; Michael Copley (18 February 2023). "An activist group is spreading misinformation to stop solar projects in rural America". NPR. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
- ^ a b Brugger, Kelsey (3 October 2019). "Meet the 'NIMBY people' trying to kill solar". E&E News. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
Shirley & Banister Public Affairs
- ^ "At the Inaugural: Spotlight on Fil-Am in U.S. VIP Delegation". February 2004.
- ^ H. CON. RES. 430, Recognizing the accomplishments of the American Council of Young Political Leaders for providing 40 years of international exchange programs, increasing international dialogue, and enhancing global understanding, and commemorating its 40th anniversary [1] Archived 2014-12-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Johnston, David (August 3, 2005). "2 Aides to Rove Testify in C.I.A. Leak Inquiry". The New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
- ^ "CNN.com - Lobbyist admits to kickbacks, fraud - January 3, 2006". CNN. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
- Washington Post. Retrieved 2006-10-06.
- ^ Baker, Peter; Grimaldi, James V. (October 7, 2006). "Rove Aid Linked to Abramoff Resigns". The Washington Post.
- ^ [2][permanent dead link]
- ^ United States House of Representatives, Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, Majority Staff, Investigation of Possible Presidential Records Act Violations, Interim Report, June 2007