The Daily MuckGov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) isn’t just content with having his name cleared. Gibbons said at a press conference Tuesday that he is open to suing the person who accused him of accepting bribes from a software company in exchange for contracts. The federal investigation prompted by Dennis Montgomery’s accusations resulted Sunday in no charges for Gov. Gibbons. (AP)
Even with the 2008 presidential election happening today, news is still coming from the election in 2004. A Republican computer consultant testified in front of a federal judge Monday that he did not know of an effort to steal the election by rigging Ohio’s vote for Bush. The consultant, Michael Cornell, ran a firm hired by former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell to provide a backup server in 2004 — despite his clear GOP connections. (McClatchy)
Students at Grinnell College in a swing district in Iowa had their absentee ballots challenged Tuesday by Republican attorneys. In 2004, the House race in the district was won by just 300 votes by Rep. Eric Palmer (D) who now faces the same Republican challenger. Grinnell students are historically Democrats, and the 50 challenged ballots could impact this tight race. (Iowa Independent)
Bernie Kerik is getting a party thrown for him by some old friends to help pay for his legal fees. The fundraiser in Paterson, N.J. is billed to “support an American hero” who has run into some legal trouble after getting charged with perjury, tax fraud, and accepting bribes. (Daily News)
The California Republican Party filed an FEC complaint Monday over Barack Obama’s visit to Hawaii to visit his dying grandmother. The California GOP said that Obama illegally used campaign funds for personal use in making the trip. The filing became public soon before word got out that Obama’s grandmother had died. (Washington Post)
A former Chicago alderman pled guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in a real estate kickback scheme. The charges are related to the investigation of fundraiser and convict Tony Rezko who has been tied to both Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL) and Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). (AP)
In more Rezko news, a former real estate specialist in Illinois claims he has been questioned by the FBI about a land deal Rezko made when he bought property and later sold it Barack Obama. (Washington Times)
Military contractor Blackwater Worldwide has been forced to layoff workers after getting turned down for a government contract. Blackwater, which has become infamous in Iraq, failed to get a contract to replace the Humvee. (AP)
