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Wolfowitz Blames Ethics Panel and Riza for His Woes

Calls her 'intractable' and 'extremely angry'

By Greg Atwan,  Newser User

Posted May 15, 2007 10:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – Paul Wolfowitz fought back aggressively in a written response to the charges that he mishandled a raise and promotion for his girlfriend, the Washington Post reports. The embattled World Bank president claims the ethics committee forced him to handle the transfer himself because Shaha Riza was "extremely angry and upset," and so "intractable" that members feared a lawsuit.

"Its members did not want to deal with a very angry Ms. Riza, whose career was being damaged as a result of their decision," Wolfowitz wrote to the panel investigating the matter. He said the committee chairman thought his relationship with Riza would help achieve a "pragmatic solution," and says he offered the unusually large raise to pre-empt a lawsuit.

This picture made available by the World Bank on April 11, 2003 shows Shaha Riza. World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz decried what he called a smear campaign against him Monday, April 30, 2007, and told a bank panel he had acted in good faith in securing a promotion and pay...
This picture made available by the World Bank on April 11, 2003 shows Shaha Riza. World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz decried what he called a "smear campaign" against him Monday, April 30, 2007, and...   (Associated Press)
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz departs his home in Chevy Chase, Md., Tuesday, May 15, 2007. Wolfowitz is tangled in an ethics controversy over securing a promotion and pay raise for his girlfriend after she was assigned duties outside the bank to avoid a conflict of interest. (AP Photo/J. Scott...
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz departs his home in Chevy Chase, Md., Tuesday, May 15, 2007. Wolfowitz is tangled in an ethics controversy over securing a promotion and pay raise for his girlfriend...   (Associated Press)
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz departs his home in Chevy Chase, Md., Tuesday, May 15, 2007. Wolfowitz is tangled in an ethics controversy over securing a promotion and pay raise for his girlfriend after she was assigned duties outside the bank to avoid a conflict of interest. (AP Photo/J. Scott...
World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz departs his home in Chevy Chase, Md., Tuesday, May 15, 2007. Wolfowitz is tangled in an ethics controversy over securing a promotion and pay raise for his girlfriend...   (Associated Press)
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