The Daily Muck

Manfred Nowak, the torture investigator for the U.N., said yesterday that he has heard “credible” allegations that in 2002 and 2003 the U.S. detained terrorist suspects on the island of Diego Garcia, a British territory housing a joint U.S. and UK military base. Britain has revealed that the U.S. has used the island in the past as a refueling stop for secret renditions, but says that the U.S. has “denied using the island as a detention center.” (AP)

Given President Bush’s remarks to newspaper editors that “I don’t want you reading my personal stuff,” it is not surprising that the White House has been so negligent in archiving its e-mails. Recent Congressional testimony and court filings reveal that the CEO president disregards “fundamental principles that well-run private companies adhere to routinely.” Despite two federal laws that require preservation of White House e-mail, approximately 1,000 days of e-mail are missing from the White House. (AP)

On the eve of the Pentagon’s first death penalty trial, the American Bar Association has told President Bush that inadequate resources available to the Chief Pentagon Defense Counsel and the fundamental lack of due process in the Guantanamo Bay tribunal system undermine American standards of justice. The ABA’s president emphasized that Guantanamo detainees “cannot challenge their detention by habeas corpus,” “the standards for admissibility of evidence could allow for convictions based on rank hearsay,” and “statements secured through coercion could be introduced against a defendant.” (Miami Herald)

As the trial of Antoin “Tony” Rezko gets underway this week, questions still surround the relationship between Rezko and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). Among the questions are how did Rezko, who by 2005 was struggling with debts, get the money to buy a vacant lot adjacent to the Obamas’ home; and why did Rezko, considering his financial difficulties, choose to buy the lot at all? While Rezko is being tried for charges unrelated to his relationship with Obama – he is “accused of extortion for allegedly peddling influence” in the Illinois Governor’s administration – a ruling that “that prosecutors could introduce evidence that Rezko used “straw donors” to give to politicians” makes it likely that Obama’s name will surface during the trial. According to the Los Angeles Times, Rezko raised “at least $200,000” for Obama between 1996 and 2004. (New York Times, Los Angeles Times)

Indicted Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) allegedly (sub. req.) told officials from Resolution Copper Mining in May 2005 that he would not support their request for a federal land swap if they did not agree to buy property owned by his former business partner, James Sandlin. However, even after the company turned down his request, Renzi still twice introduced a bill for the land swap, withdrawing his name in April 2007 “after the FBI raided Renzi’s family business.” (Roll Call)

On the campaign trail John McCain asserts that the GOP lost the 2006 elections “not because of Iraq but because spending got out of control.” Recent analysis from the Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz suggests that the Iraq war will cost trillions, yet McCain blames only earmarks and has vowed to break from the Republican leadership to support a one-year ban on earmarks. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) secured $126 million in individual earmarks in the recently enacted spending law. (The Times, The Hill)

Although Barack Obama (D-IL) has repeatedly said the U.S. should have focused more on Afghanistan rather than starting the war in Iraq, since becoming a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he has missed three meetings on Afghanistan strategy. Responding to criticism, Obama spokesman Bill Burton says that Americans “understand that both John McCain and Barack Obama have missed Senate hearings and votes during their campaigns.” (The Hill)

Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) has a new medium for showcasing the $500 million in earmarks he secured last year. In an effort to bring “sunlight and transparency” to the Alaska congressional delegation’s work, Alaska lawmakers “will begin disclosing every request from the state for specially earmarked federal money” on their individual Web sites. Because the new rules require the disclosure of who is asking for the money, the public can now learn from representative Don Young (R-AK) how, according to his preferred metaphor, he stuffs a spending bill like a turkey. (McClatchy)

Mississippi attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs still faces charges for bribing a judge but he no longer has to worry about a criminal contempt (sub. req.) charge. A federal judge ruled that an Alabama court lacks the jurisdiction to try Scruggs for his alleged refusal to turn over hurricane Katrina-related insurance documents. (Wall Street Journal)