The Daily Muck

Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) is demanding that the American Psychiatric Association release an account of its financing. The request comes after investigations revealed that a large amount of the money the association receives comes from pharmaceutical companies, raising questions of a conflict of interest. (New York Times)

A survey by the Associated Press revealed that despite state laws granting public access to government e-mail, many states simply delete internal messages. In this practice, mirrored by the federal government, many state officials are given discretionary control over which emails are sent out under Freedom of Information requests and which are erased. (AP)

In response to allegations that he is getting a “special deal” on his rent, New York Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) came out with an angry defense on Friday. Rangel scoffed at the New York Times report that he was receiving unprecedented rent-stabilized apartments, saying that he “didn’t see anything unfair about it.” (AP)

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Sunday that it plans to immediately begin an investigation to halt the spread of false information used to manipulate the prices of securities. The SEC chairman said the probe is aimed at “ensuring that investors continue to get reliable, accurate information about public companies in the marketplace.” (Wall Street Journal)

A former U.S. Middle East diplomat was sentenced to one year in jail for sending racist threats to an Arab-American organization. The sentencing came after a guilty plea in light of emails the former diplomat sent, one of which included the phrase “the only good Arab is a dead Arab.” The retired diplomat previously worked in the Human Resources division at the State Department. (Reuters)

Congress held hearings on Friday over the electrocutions of at least 13 Americans in Iraq due to poor wiring by the contractor KBR. The hearing featured testimony from two mothers of electrocuted soldiers as well as two disenchanted former KBR employees. KBR claimed no wrong-doing on Friday, and the investigation will continue. (Houston Chronicle)