The Chicago office of Winston & Strawn has found itself the most recent addition to the list of complaints against Rod Blagojevich. Because of the lengthy ongoing federal investigation into the governor, Blagojevich’s political fund is unable to foot the full legal bill; Winston & Strawn is now refusing to continue representation of their client. (WSJ)
The Portuguese foreign minister has offered his country as a place of asylum for at least some Guantanamo detainees and called on other members of the European Union to do likewise. U.S. officials have been hindered in their attempts to shut down the controversial program because of the question over where freed prisoners will go. (FT)
An investigation into misappropriation of campaign funds by a campaign staffer for Rep. Chris Shays’ (R-CT) campaign is focusing on Shays’ campaign manager, sources say. Accounting for the $3.6 million campaign has been incomplete, although an exact amount for missing funds has still not been finalized. Rep. Shays lost his bid for reelection in Connecticut’s 4th congressional district. (Hartford Courant)
Monitor environmental fugitives on the Environmental Protection Agency’s new most-wanted list, a 23-name roster of suspects in cases that range from illegal gas guzzling Alfa Romeo imports to oil dumps in the South China Sea. (AP)
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) repeated his request to Democrats on the House Oversight Committee that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac turn over documents detailing lobbying activities between 2000 and 2008. There is suspicion on the Hill, especially among Republicans, that zealous lobbying activity on behalf of the federally-sponsored mortgage businesses may have helped circumvent tighter regulation over the last decade. (Roll Call)
Changes to the Endangered Species Act were made final yesterday, allowing federal agencies to circumvent requirements for an independent scientific review before taking on new projects. Dirk Kempthorne, the Secretary of the Interior, insists that the changes reinforce existing regulations. (Washington Post)
