WASHINGTON – Kevin Ring said he knew nothing about efforts to get a job for the wife of Republican Rep. John Doolittle of Roseville, but then investigators found his e-mails.

Ring wrote two of them to his boss, lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In one, he said that Doolittle's chief of staff had asked him whether a job had yet been found for her. In the second, Ring wrote that he had met personally with Doolittle, who again asked about the job for his wife, Julie.

Last week's release of Ring's 10-count indictment, the latest chapter in the long-running Abramoff influence-peddling scandal, makes one thing clear: His apparent desire to protect the Doolittles is now figuring very prominently in his legal troubles.

Two of the felony charges against Ring, an aide to Doolittle before he went to work for Abramoff, directly involve his relationship with Julie Doolittle. Prosecutors allege that he obstructed justice by trying to mislead the FBI when he said he did not recall conversations about getting a job for Julie Doolittle.

And in 2004, they allege he used interstate wires "in execution of (a) scheme" when he deposited a $5,000 check into a credit union account controlled by her.

While the Doolittles remain under federal investigation, they have not been charged with any crimes and have consistently maintained their innocence.

But Ring's indictment shows that the legal noose appears to be moving perilously close to the 57-year-old Doolittle, who announced earlier this year that he would not seek a 10th term in Congress.

The cozy and circular relationship between the Doolittles and Abramoff is outlined in a long track of e-mails that were seized by investigators and made public in the indictment, which was announced last week.

Prosecutors allege that Ring, Doolittle's former legislative director, served as an intermediary between Abramoff and the congressman, and the e-mails now provide some of the most damning evidence of the close link between the two.

On Dec. 27, 2000, Doolittle wrote an e-mail to Abramoff, saying: "Thanks for all that you have done to help us and to help the cause this past year."

Three months earlier, Ring had told Abramoff that the congressman "was excited and appreciative" that the lobbyist might be able to get his wife a job. He wanted to talk to Abramoff.

Abramoff wrote back to Doolittle: "Please tell (your wife) I am sorry I have not been able to finish what we discussed, but I will have it in place soon."

After arranging a job for Julie Doolittle that would pay her $5,000 a month, Abramoff wrote in an e-mail that he wanted her to help "but not be overburdened with work" because she had responsibilities as a wife and mother.

Julie Doolittle ended up with a job raising money for what turned out to be one of Abramoff's bogus charities, getting paid $96,000. Money for the charity came from Abramoff's clients, who had benefited from legislation pushed by Doolittle. And the happy clients gave money to Doolittle to help him get re-elected.

Ring, who managed some of Abramoff's most prominent clients and also lobbied for the cities of Elk Grove and Lincoln, communicated on a regular basis with Abramoff.

Writing warmly of Doolittle in one e-mail, Ring told Abramoff that the congressman had worked hard to help Abramoff's clients and was "a good soldier, doing everything we asked of him."

Ring told Abramoff that he should "get something for the congressman." Doolittle wanted money for his campaign, and he got it.

Doolittle, whose Virginia home was raided by the FBI last year, is raising money for his defense from supporters and other politicians, including $10,000 from Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch. And he has hired a top-notch criminal attorney, David Barger, a former federal prosecutor who served as an aide to Whitewater special prosecutor Kenneth Starr during the Clinton administration.

Doolittle had nothing to say about Ring's indictment, leaving questions to his attorney. But Barger said last week that it contained "gratuitous references to the congressman and his wife to titillate the public" and embarrass and pressure Doolittle. Barger did not respond to a request to be interviewed for this story.

Call Rob Hotakainen, McClatchy Washington Bureau, (202) 383-0009.