The Daily MuckSen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), currently on trial for accepting gifts from powerful oil company VECO, netted more than $238.5 million in earmarks for Alaska this year, narrowly edging out Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) as the top-scoring politician. In his four decades in the Senate, 84-year-old Stevens has built a reputation for steering funding his state’s direction, earning the nickname “Uncle Ted.” The ranking, compiled by the non-profit Taxpayers for Common Sense, showed that the special-interest spending included $2 million on a study about hibernation as treatment for battlefield trauma. (Wall Street Journal)
Alaska Gov. and GOP Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin returned campaign contributions yesterday after media reports circulated that linked the money to corrupt state legislators, such as the recently indicted state senator John Cowdery. Today, the Washington Post reports that Palin accepted more than $25,000 in gifts while governor from mining and other lobbying interests, including a $1,200 gold-nugget pin. In the 2006 governor’s race, Palin campaigned on ending government corruption and special interest dealings. (AP and Washington Post)
Sarah Palin (R-AK) will not release her financial records until the day after her first vice-presidential debate, almost two weeks after the original due date. The Federal Election Commission granted the extension after the Palin campaign said it was confused about the deadline and needed more time. Biden filed the paperwork last week. (AP)
The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday approved giving Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) the authority to issue subpoenas to the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel to determine its role in shaping White House policy on torture policy and domestic surveillance. Committee chair Leahy said the decision, decided on party lines, was forced by a lack of cooperation with the SJC’s ongoing investigation. (The Public Record)
The Guantanamo military prosecutor who stepped down Wednesday citing ethical qualms said yesterday that he would testify for the defense if granted immunity. Army Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld resigned in protest of the lack of due process given to the defendant, the defense claims. The trial concerns a detainee accused of the attempted murder of two Americans and an interpretor in Afghanistan by throwing a grenade. (LA Times)
The judge presiding over an oil industry corruption trial convened a hearing yesterday to discuss the defense’s request that the case be dismissed because delays had violated his client’s right to a speedy trial. Oilman James H. Giffen is accused of bribing the Kazakhstani president on behalf of US companies. The case began five years ago. (Wall Street Journal)
