The Daily Muck

The Government Accountability Office reports the government is putting millions of Medicare dollars in jeopardy through lax review practices for medical suppliers. The government has wasted roughly $1 billion a year by frequently authorizing fictitious companies to submit reimbursement claims. (AP)

Bruce Ivins, the former government scientist and suspect in the 2001 anthrax attacks who committed suicide last week, was allowed to keep his security credentials at the FBI even though he was under investigation in the case. Former Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD), who was a target in the attacks, sharply criticized the FBI for its handling of the case. (Washington Post)

A former state assistant prosecutor in Alaska has been assigned to handle the investigation of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Steve Branchflower, the former assistant district attorney, will lead the investigation into Palin and her firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. (ADN)

A federal appeals court rejected Friday a plan to keep the jurors in the Cyril Wecht case anonymous. A U.S. District Court judge had proposed a plan of anonymity to protect jurors from media attention. That ruling came after protests from local media. The Third Circuit expects to hear arguments in Wecht’s appeal over accusations that he used his former county office staff to benefit his private practice. (Morning Call)

The departing president of Countrywide Financial Corp. is reportedly leaving today for a vacation in Africa with his family on the company plane. It was unclear whether such use of the jet is authorized as part of his severance package. The former president, David Sambol, did not comment, but instead requested privacy. (LA Times)

The defense in the war crimes trial of Osama bin Laden’s driver Salim Hamdan rested its case on Friday after less than two days. Hamdan’s defense lawyers ended by insisting that Hamdan was only a very minor player in al-Qaeda, and that with his fourth-grade education he is too incompetent for much else. This brings an end the testimony in the case. (New York Times)