Mark Corallo
Encyclopedia
Mark Corallo is a political communications and public relations professional, who is currently the co-founder and co-principal of Corallo Comstock. Corallo is a Washington communications veteran who has worked on Capitol Hill, in the executive branch, for campaigns, and with grass roots organizations.
Corallo has signed on as spokesman for possible Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson. He has also gained recent prominence by publicly calling for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
, who served as his predecessor as Public Affairs Director at the Department of Justice until 2003, and prior to that, as Republican National Committee
opposition research
director. Corallo decided to convert his previous one-man shop into a joint operation after conversations with the Hearst Corporation
, one of his clients, about hiring additional representation for their matter. Corallo recommended Comstock, who, like Corallo, had assisted the defense team of Scooter Libby.
Hearst has hired Corallo and Comstock to support Heart's attempts to quash a subpoena to compel testimony by two San Francisco Chronicle
journalists who broke the story of the BALCO
steroids investigation.
from 2002–2005, as the Public Affairs Director for the Department of Justice
. The American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU) has compiled numerous examples of statements Corallo made during that period which the ACLU believes misrepresent the department's understanding of the USA Patriot Act
and which were designed to mislead the press about the scope of Justice Department actions.
From 1999-2002, Corallo was the Communications Director for the United States House of Representatives
Committee on Government Reform, taking a leave of absence during the 2000 presidential campaign
season to serve as press secretary for Victory 2000, the Republican National Committee
's official campaign effort. From 1996-1999, he served as press secretary to U.S. Representative and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Bob Livingston
(R-LA), as Livingston was forced to step aside as the incoming speaker of the House in 1998 after admitting an extramarital affair.
's chief of staff, related to Libby's alleged involvement in the outing of Valerie Plame
, Corallo became a part of Karl Rove
's "public relations defense team." Corallo spoke to the media on Rove's behalf, and denied reports that Rove was under indictment for his involvement in "Plamegate". Corallo has also attended a fundraiser to raise money for Libby's legal defense fund at the residence of James Carville
and Mary Matalin
.
In December 1998, during the House debate over the Clinton impeachment, Speaker-elect Bob Livingston, whose own claimed infidelities were soon to be exposed, allegedly called for ending the impeachment process. Corallo, then Livingston's press secretary, is alleged to have urged his boss to continue with the process.
Corallo has signed on as spokesman for possible Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson. He has also gained recent prominence by publicly calling for the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
Corallo Comstock
Corallo formed his newest firm with Barbara ComstockBarbara Comstock
Barbara J. Comstock is an American politician, currently a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates. She first won election to her seat in 2009, defeating Democratic incumbent Margaret Vanderhye...
, who served as his predecessor as Public Affairs Director at the Department of Justice until 2003, and prior to that, as Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
opposition research
Opposition research
Opposition research is:# The term used to classify and describe efforts of supporters or paid consultants of a political candidate to legally investigate the biographical, legal or criminal, medical, educational, financial, public and private administrative and or voting records of the opposing...
director. Corallo decided to convert his previous one-man shop into a joint operation after conversations with the Hearst Corporation
Hearst Corporation
The Hearst Corporation is an American media conglomerate based in the Hearst Tower, Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. Founded by William Randolph Hearst as an owner of newspapers, the company's holdings now include a wide variety of media...
, one of his clients, about hiring additional representation for their matter. Corallo recommended Comstock, who, like Corallo, had assisted the defense team of Scooter Libby.
Hearst has hired Corallo and Comstock to support Heart's attempts to quash a subpoena to compel testimony by two San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
journalists who broke the story of the BALCO
Balco
Balco can refer to:* the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative - a controversial sports medicine/nutrition centre in Burlingame, California.* Balco balcony systems who develops, designs and manufactures balcony systems and glazing solutions....
steroids investigation.
Career
Corallo was chief spokesman for U.S. Attorney General John AshcroftJohn Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
from 2002–2005, as the Public Affairs Director for the Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. The American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
(ACLU) has compiled numerous examples of statements Corallo made during that period which the ACLU believes misrepresent the department's understanding of the USA Patriot Act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
and which were designed to mislead the press about the scope of Justice Department actions.
From 1999-2002, Corallo was the Communications Director for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Committee on Government Reform, taking a leave of absence during the 2000 presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 2000
The United States presidential election of 2000 was a contest between Republican candidate George W. Bush, then-governor of Texas and son of former president George H. W. Bush , and Democratic candidate Al Gore, then-Vice President....
season to serve as press secretary for Victory 2000, the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
's official campaign effort. From 1996-1999, he served as press secretary to U.S. Representative and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Bob Livingston
Bob Livingston
Robert Linlithgow "Bob" Livingston Jr. is a Washington, D.C.-based lobbyist and a former Republican U.S. Representative from Louisiana...
(R-LA), as Livingston was forced to step aside as the incoming speaker of the House in 1998 after admitting an extramarital affair.
Personal background
Corallo is a veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and is a graduate of Georgetown University. He is married and has three children.Communications work on behalf of controversial individuals
Shortly before the indictment of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick CheneyDick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
's chief of staff, related to Libby's alleged involvement in the outing of Valerie Plame
Valerie Plame
Valerie Elise Plame Wilson , known as Valerie Plame, Valerie E. Wilson, and Valerie Plame Wilson, is a former United States CIA Operations Officer and the author of a memoir detailing her career and the events leading up to her resignation from the CIA.-Early life :Valerie Elise Plame was born on...
, Corallo became a part of Karl Rove
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
's "public relations defense team." Corallo spoke to the media on Rove's behalf, and denied reports that Rove was under indictment for his involvement in "Plamegate". Corallo has also attended a fundraiser to raise money for Libby's legal defense fund at the residence of James Carville
James Carville
Chester James Carville, Jr. is an American political consultant, commentator, educator, actor, attorney, media personality, and prominent liberal pundit. Carville gained national attention for his work as the lead strategist of the successful presidential campaign of then-Arkansas governor Bill...
and Mary Matalin
Mary Matalin
Mary Joe Matalin is an American political consultant, well known for her work with the Republican Party. She was an assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Dick Cheney until 2003. Matalin has been chief editor of Threshold Editions, a conservative publishing imprint...
.
In December 1998, during the House debate over the Clinton impeachment, Speaker-elect Bob Livingston, whose own claimed infidelities were soon to be exposed, allegedly called for ending the impeachment process. Corallo, then Livingston's press secretary, is alleged to have urged his boss to continue with the process.