"Former administration official" Susan Ralston?

She was only Karl Rove's top aide five weeks before the election.

A key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove resigned Friday in the wake of congressional report that listed hundreds of contacts between disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House.

I have nothing to back this, but I feel the need to point out that within the growing history of administration indictments, the White House always prefers to have them referred to as "former administration official X."

I see a sudden resignation/firing of a key political aide five weeks before the election. I see it mentioned next to Abramoff. I have to ask.

(Notice that she's not the one making the statement, the White House is. Not want her to talk to the press? Hmmmm..... This may be worth following.)

Also, why immediately, and why during the Friday dump?

Later: Longer AP story indirectly discussing ticket gifts.
ThinkProgress on some of the Abramoff/Ralston background.

UPDATE: Maybe I got this wrong. (White House story?)

A congressional report showed last week that Ralston accepted sometimes-pricey tickets to nine sports and entertainment events from Abramoff while she provided him with inside White House information.

Or maybe not.

the counsel's office reached no conclusion about whether Ralston violated gift limits because her resignation made the point moot.