Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON -- President Bush expressed disappointment, sadness and shock Saturday over the arrest of his former domestic-policy adviser, Claude Allen, who resigned in February citing a need to spend more time with his family.
Allen, 45, was arrested Thursday in suburban Maryland for stealing from Target and other stores in an alleged scheme that lasted months and netted him more than $5,000 in goods that ranged from a Bose home-theater system to $2.50 trinkets, police said.
"If the allegations are true, something went wrong in Claude Allen's life, and that is really sad," Bush said Saturday at the White House.
Bush twice nominated Allen to a federal appeals court seat.Allen was released on his own recognizance. He faces two charges for his alleged thefts and ongoing scheme, both of which carry maximum penalties of a $25,000 fine and 15 years in prison. His lawyer did not return calls for comment.
According to the Montgomery County police, the manager of a Target store saw Allen strolling the aisles on Jan. 2 with an empty Target bag in his shopping cart. The manager watched as Allen selected items, placed them in the Target bag, then went to guest services and presented a receipt to receive a refund for those items. After receiving the refund, he left the store without paying for other merchandise and was stopped by an employee. A subsequent investigation showed that Allen fraudulently had returned over $5,000 worth of goods at Target and local department stores over the past year.
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