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Disgraced senator will not resign WASHINGTON - Larry Craig, the Republican senator from Idaho, reversed course yesterday and said he intends to remain in Congress despite his conviction in a sex-sting operation. (Reuters) PREVIOUS: Embattled US senator quits Larry Craig investigation US Senator gets flushed
'Signing statements' add presidential spin to new laws WASHINGTON -The Bush administration sometimes fails to follow all provisions of laws after President Bush attaches "signing statements" meant to interpret or restrict the legislation, congressional examiners say. (AP) PREVIOUS: Presidential Signing Statements accompanying the Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Acts Presidential Signing Statements Signing statements
Bush commutes Libby's sentence WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday spared I Lewis "Scooter" Libby from prison, commuting the former White House aide's 30-month prison term. The prison time was imposed after a federal court convicted Libby of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to investigators in the probe of the leak of the name of a CIA operative. (CNN) MORE: Commutation fits pattern set by predecessors
Nonprofit connects Murtha, lobbyists WASHINGTON, DC - For a quarter of a century, Carmen Scialabba labored for Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), helping parcel out the billions of dollars that came through the House Appropriations Committee, so when the disabled aide needed a favor, Murtha was there. (Washington Post)
WASHINGTON - The FBI is investigating whether Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., used his influence to secure lobbying and consulting contracts for his daughter, two people familiar with the inquiry said Saturday. (AP)
FBI tape reveals Mutha's role in Abscam scandal WASHINGTON - It was one of the biggest congressional scandals in our country's history. It was called Abscam. 31 officials were targeted and when the dust cleared, one senator and five members of the House were convicted on bribery and conspiracy charges. But one man who was caught on tape with the undercover agents was never indicted. His name: Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania. Now, after 26 years, the tape of Murtha's meeting is finally being seen by the public. (Fox)
Adams's data show that the values rift between Republicans and Democrats is negligible when compared with the gulf between politically engaged citizens (of either party) and the nearly half of Americans who are politically disaffected. (Tyee)
Fundraiser gets 18 years in prison TOLEDO, Ohio - Thomas Noe, a prominent coin dealer accused of taking at least $2 million, was convicted last week of theft, corrupt activity, money laundering, forgery and tampering with records. (AP) PREVIOUS: Noe refused 10-year term in plea deal : Coingate: Fund facts to know and tell
FBI to examine Foley's e-mails WASHINGTON, DC - The FBI announced last night that it is looking into whether former representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.) broke federal law by sending inappropriate e-mails and instant messages to teenage House pages. (Washington Post) PREVIOUS: Ex-page says he saw suggestive e-mails Who knew what when? Foley checks into alcohol rehab Congressman quits over e-mails to teen |
FBI taped Stevens' calls in sting WASHINGTON - The FBI, working with an Alaska oil contractor, secretly taped telephone calls with Sen. Ted Stevens as part of a public corruption sting, according to people close to the investigation. (AP) PREVIOUS: New ethics rules haven't squashed pet projects
Lobbying firm working to undermine Iraqi PM CRAWFORD, Texas - A powerhouse Republican lobbying firm with close ties to the White House has begun a public campaign to undermine the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. A senior Bush administration official told CNN the White House is aware of the lobbying campaign by Barbour Griffith & Rogers because the firm is "blasting e-mails all over town" criticizing al-Maliki and promoting the firm's client, former interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, as an alternative to al-Maliki. (CNN) PREVIOUS: US report see precarious Iraqi government
Diebold Election Systems Inc. voting machines are not secure enough to guarantee a trustworthy election, and an attacker with access to a single machine could disrupt or change the outcome of an election using viruses, according to a review of Diebold's source code. (IDG) PREVIOUS: Voting machines lose to hackers Scientists hack electronic voting machines State of California reports
WASHINGTON - Something revolutionary occurred Thursday in Washington: A major piece of legislation with bipartisan backing and the strong support of the president failed to pass the Senate. The bill runs more than 400 pages. In its many sections are many innovations and many revisions of existing law. For almost any lay person outside of government, it might as well be written in Urdu - so indecipherable is the drafting language. That is by design. (NY Post)
WASHINGTON - A moratorium on the insertion of pork-barrel projects into spending bills has slashed the amount of money for such earmarks by more than half. Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) reports $13.2 billion in pork-barrel spending for the current fiscal year, down from $29 billion in 2006. (Christian Science Monitor)
WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales approved plans to fire several US attorneys in a November meeting, according to documents released Friday that contradict earlier claims that he was not closely involved in the dismissals. (AP) MORE: Six strikes and you’re out US AG apologies over how prosecutors were fired White House subpoena showdown goes to Senate 'Showdown' really a battle of partisan buffoons White House Ok'd mass US attorney firing
Judge sentences ex-Bush official to prison WASHINGTON - David Safavian, the former chief of staff for the General Service Administration, was sentenced on obstruction and concealment charges for lying to investigators about his relationship with Abramoff. (AP)
FBI investigating actions of Specter staff member WASHINGTON - The FBI is investigating whether a member of Sen. Arlen Specter's staff broke the law by helping her husband, a lobbyist, secure almost $50 million in Pentagon spending for his clients, the senator acknowledged Tuesday. (USA Today)
WASHINGTON - Invading Canada won't be like invading Iraq: When we invade Canada, nobody will be able to grumble that we didn't have a plan. (Washington Post) |
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CHICAGO - Former Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan, who was acclaimed by capital punishment foes for emptying out death row, was sentenced Wednesday to 6-1/2 years in prison for the corruption scandal that ruined his political career. (AP) PREVIOUS: Ex-governor guilty of racketeering Feds: End ex-Gov. Ryan's '12 years of Christmas' |
Congress 'Black' budgets scrutinized WASHINGTON - An independent investigation has found that imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham took advantage of secrecy and badgered congressional aides to help slip items into classified bills that would benefit him and his associates. (AP) RELATED: Opposition research a political art form |
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FBI searches home, office of CIA official WASHINGTON - Federal agents conducted searches on Friday at the CIA office and home of Kyle Foggo, who stepped down this week as the agency's third-ranking official. (SF Chronicle/ NY times) MORE: FBI searches home of ex-CIA official The CIA 1- Bush 0 |
Pollster guilty of fake data conspiracy BRIDGEPORT - A polling company owner admitted participating in a conspiracy to falsify data in order to meet deadlines for clients, which included the campaigns of President Bush, U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Mayor John M. Fabrizi. (Connecticut Post) |
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Nonprofit groups funnelled Abramoff funds WASHINGTON - Newly released documents in the Jack Abramoff investigation shed light on how the lobbyist secretly routed his clients' funds through tax-exempt organizations with the acquiescence of those in charge. (Washington Post) |
New guilty plea in lobbyist scandal Jack’s bribe ring rocks Washington Independent Counsel report gets sliced up |
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Sen. Frist’s charity records raise questions WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's AIDS charity paid nearly a half-million dollars in consulting fees to members of his political inner circle, according to tax returns providing the first financial accounting of the presidential hopeful's nonprofit. (MSNBC) |
Kentucky governor indicted over hiring practices Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher was indicted Thursday on misdemeanor charges that he directed a scheme to illegally award state jobs to political supporters, the latest twist in a year-long probe into hiring practices in his administration. (CNN) |
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Jefferson won't resign from house panel WASHINGTON - Louisiana Democratic Rep. William Jefferson said Wednesday that he won’t submit to calls for his resignation from a House panel while he is under investigation in a federal bribery case. (Fox) PREVIOUS: Subpoenas not enough? Filing: Lawmaker taped taking $100,000 Gingrich revolutionaries turn into arrogant elite |
Former FBI director: Clinton undermined Saudi bombing probe WASHINGTON - Former FBI Director Louis Freeh on Sunday accused former President Bill Clinton of ditching the investigation into the 1996 bombing of a U.S. barracks in Saudi Arabia to pursue better relations with Iran. (CNN)PREVIOUS: Clinton skeletons burst out of cupboard unlocked by the FBI Clinton fundraising group gets fine for Gala |
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Court rules raid unconstitutional WASHINGTON - The FBI violated the Constitution when agents raided US Rep. William J. Jefferson’s office last year and viewed legislative documents, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. (AP) |
House approves speedy Jefferson ethics probe Congressman indicted on bribery charges 'Cold Cash' Jefferson indicted |
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Ney pleads guilty in Abramoff case WASHINGTON - The Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation claims its first member of Congress with Rep. Bob Ney set to plead guilty Friday to taking bribes. Despite his admission of criminal activity, Ney, 52, is entitled to collect a congressional pension. (CBS/AP) |
Former deputy Interior secretary pleads guilty Report says nonprofits sold clout to Abramoff Investigation of Jack Abramoff's use of tax-exempt organizations .pdf |
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Ex-congressman begins prison sentence SAN DIEGO - Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham began his first day in prison after being sentenced to eight years and four months for taking $2.4 million in homes, yachts and other bribes in a corruption scheme unmatched in the annals of Congress. (AP) |
Corrupt congressman's loot to be auctioned off How Local Politics Works in America |
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WASHINGTON - Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, whose political career has been battered by scandal surrounding lobbying and ethics violations in Congress, will not seek re-election in November. (FOX) |
Premium on lobbyists who served in Congress DeLay smile may foil Dem campaign ad plans |
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Conspiracy theories abound after election Website proposes marriage to 'Bush dodgers' Marry an American |
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With less than a week to go before the election, the voting problems of 2000 are beginning to figure prominently in campaign communications. (Fox News) |
Florida ballot papers go missing Authorities are investigating the apparent loss of 58,000 absentee forms in Broward County while officials have said replacements are being sent out. (BBC) |
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CBS News Series |
Tracking campaign money, door-to-door This election cycle has seen the creation of Fundrace.org, a Web site devoted solely to making it easy to identify anyone who gives money to presidential campaigns. It is the brainchild of Eyebeam, a technology-focused non-profit organization in New York. (MSNBC) |
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| BBC Vote USA 2004 | Guardian UK: US Election 2004 | |
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