Susan Ralston, a key aide to Rove, "did not want to be a distraction to the White House at such an important time and so we have accepted her resignation," said White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino.

    "We support her decision and consider the matter closed," she said.

    Ralston, who helped organize and coordinate the day's events and message of the White House, submitted a letter of resignation to Bush on Thursday saying that after six years at the White Houseit was time for her to pursue other opportunities.

    The House of Representatives Government Reform Committee issued a report last week, which, based on documents supplied by Abramoff's former lobbying firm, listed 485 lobbying contacts with White House officials over three years, including 10 with Rove.

    The report said Ralston had passed inside White House information to Abramoff, and that Abramoff and his team offered White House officials tickets to 19 sporting events and concerts, with Ralston accepting his tickets to nine such events.

    Perino said Ralston submitted her resignation after recognizing that "a protracted discussion of these matters would be a distraction to the White House."

    Ralston worked for Abramoff before joining Rove as a key aide in the White House after Bush took office in 2001.

    Abramoff and several of his associates have pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion charges in an influence-peddling scandal, and are cooperating in a federal corruption investigation that could implicate many lawmakers.

    Abramoff was sentenced in March to five years and 10 months in prison in a fraud case concerning the purchase of a gambling fleet in Florida. Enditem