The Daily Muck

Judith Regan, one-time lover of Bernie Kerik, has filed a civil suit alleging that she was pressured by an executive at her previous job with News Corporation to lie about the affair when asked by White House investigators. The reason? According to Regan, the exec wanted to protect the potential Presidential run of one Rudy Giuliani. And though it is not disclosed in the filing, The Huffington Post notes earlier reports that Regan actually has recordings of calls between her and News Corp execs. (NY Times, Huffington Post)

The CIA videotaped at least three interrogations performed on senior al-Qaeda officials who were then being held in secret prisons abroad. Meanwhile, the CIA might be in trouble for its recent disclosure. The defense for Zacarias Moussaoui had long ago asked for interrogation transcripts of other detainees in lieu of their actual testimony, but the CIA said no such thing existed. (McClatchy)

Dr. James Holsinger, Bush’s nominee for Surgeon General with a penchant for curing homosexuals, isn’t too worried about Congressional obstruction. According to Kentucky’s Bible Belt Blogger, Holsinger is telling folks that he will be recess appointed by Bush during the coming holiday season. Remind Congress not to turn the lights off over Christmas. (Think Progress)

Some people think that voter ID laws unfairly prejudice minorities and the poor. But unlike the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, these hand-wringers get their crazy ideas by examining the available data on the situation. So just in time for the Supreme Court’s ruling on voter ID laws, here are some numbers on the consequence of this policy. (AP)

The Senate Ethics Committee is clunking along in its investigation of Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID). The process is generally very discreet, with little information being leaked out before the actual public disclosure. This one is so private (sub. req.) that the Committee is yet to speak to Craig himself. (Roll Call)

Let’s make it official. An appeals court is refusing (sub. req.) to rehear the government’s arguments that it should be allowed to use evidence gathered in the House office of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA). (Roll Call)

The disturbing psychological effects of the Iraq War continue to be unearthed. CBS is preparing a two-part special on the suicide rate of soldiers and veterans, finding that the numbers are larger than the already-disturbing figures released by the Department of Veteran Affairs; CBS estimates over 6,000 suicides annually in 2005. Meanwhile, Time Magazine reports that the mental toll hits reservists even harder than active soldiers. (Huffington Post, Time)

Just to be clear, the Army doesn’t waterboard. It’s unfortunate when the military has to release such a reaffirmation “to eliminate any confusion that may have arisen as a result of recent public discourse on the subject.” Thanks, Langley! (AP)

A CIA agent has admitted to using her former position with the FBI to look at information on the terrorist organization Hezbollah, despite not being cleared for such an investigation. As a double whammy, the investigation also confirmed that she illegally obtained her American citizenship, so she’s getting fired and deported. The investigation does not suggest that information was in any way leaked to Hezbollah. (NY Times)