New memos detail Republican Frederic Malek's role in Nixon campaign against Jews

By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 3, 2010

Frederic V. Malek, who is among Washington's wealthiest Republican power brokers, is discovering that even a single problematic episode in government service can be hard to shake.

As Malek assumes a widening role in national and Virginia politics, Democrats are calling attention to the recent disclosure of more memos that detail his part in carrying out President Richard M. Nixon's program to enforce ideological and religious purity.

Malek previously has been implicated in Nixon's crusade against Jews, and in 1988, he resigned from the Republican National Committee because of it. He has apologized for his involvement but always has denied playing a central part.

Now, the 22-year-old controversy has resurfaced, with Democratic lawmakers in Virginia complaining about Malek's appointment by Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) as chairman of a panel studying the state budget deficit. McDonnell said he was unaware of Malek's role in the controversy.

(More here.)