The Daily Muck

Robert Fromm, former Defense Department official and employee of Michael Wade’s infamous contracting company MZM, has pleaded guilty to one count of violating a lifetime employment ban. Fromm has expressed his willingness to talk with officials about ongoing investigations. He is scheduled for sentencing in January. (Charlottesville Daily Progress)

Earning reports for Washington lobbying firms were very strong in the first half of 2007. According to CQ.com, a half-dozen midsize firms “at least double[d] their average six-month take during the 109th Congress.” Jim Turner, a former Democratic representative from Texas (top Democrat on Homeland Security Committee) had to sit out last season because of revolving door rules, but this year he is credited with tripling; the income of Arnold & Porter. (CQ)

The Justice Department has spent $214 million gathering DNA samples from convicted criminals and updating their DNA testing labs. And yet, over the same time period, the Department hasn’t spent a dime of the $8 million allocated by Congress for using DNA evidence to potentially exonerate convicts. (USA TODAY)

Federal authorities have raided the home of disgraced fundraiser Norman Hsu. They seized all the fun stuff, including his wine collection (valued over $100,000) and a saxophone signed by Bill Clinton. (AP)

Former Veco CEO Bill Allen has pleaded guilty to crimes including bribing public officials. Executives at his former firm have pleaded guilty to “crimes including making conduit contributions to politicians — basically giving employees money to make contributions to politicians.” Nonetheless, few people who have received Veco cash have felt compelled to return it. Much of it can be found in the coffers of campaign funds of members of the Senate appropriations committee. (American Public Media)

Yesterday we reported that the Environmental Protection Agency had settled a huge case that would require $5 billion in cleanup for American Electric Power. Despite the case being opened under the Clinton administration, Bush fans were calling the case vindication for the administration’s choice to focus the EPA on a handful of particularly large cases (which would explain the noticeable paucity in investigations over the past six years). But that talking point has already been put to rest, as Bush’s EPA has announced that it no longer intends to prosecute or enforce similar cases. (Washington Post)

The show has reached a new low. An administration brief prepared for next week’s oral arguments in front of the Supreme Court argues that Guantanamo detainees “enjoy more procedural protections than any other captured enemy combatants in the history of warfare.” (NY Times)

The Army has had better success in the past few months of meeting its recruitment targets, but at a certain price. In order to meet quota, the Army has been accepting more soldiers who do not have a high school degree. And, since the start of the war in 2003, the Army has doubled the percentage of new recruits with criminal records. (Chicago Tribune)

In the “Where Are They Now?” file, former Congressional aide-cum-lobbyist-cum-aide again Jeffrey Shockey has made the quiet transition to soccer dad, at least according to his charitable giving. Shocker was a former aide to Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) who later demonstrated an “insider’s talent” for securing funds from Lewis’ committees. Seven of Shocker’s lobbyist clients have already been subpoenaed in federal investigations. (Harper’s)

Rudy Giuliani claims, on his Web site, that as mayor he increased the NYC police force by 12,000 officers between 1994 and mid-2000. However, FactCheck.org finds Rudy’s math suspect: “Most of the cops he’s counting – 7,100 to be exact – were already housing or transit police who were simply folded into the New York Police Department.” Taking this sleight of hand into account, the real increase was approximately 3,660. Oh, and did Giuliani mention that President Bill Clinton covered part of the cost for those new officers? (Time’ “Swampland”, FactCheck.org)