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Abramoff Could Get Sentence Reduced
“Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff may be getting out of jail earlier than he expected, NBC News learned on Monday. A federal judge Monday granted the government’s request for a new hearing to determine an appropriate reduction in Abramoff’s sentence, a reward based on his continued cooperation with investigators in several federal probes.” (NBC News)

Critics Question Status of Abramoff Probe
“Amid turmoil over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, Bush administration critics are wondering whether the Justice Department is paying enough attention to the ongoing Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation.” (NPR)

Experts Say Ruling Hits Prosecutor’s Credibility
“A federal appeals court last week slapped down a controversial fraud conviction with a swift, blunt decisiveness almost never seen in the legal system. The ruling struck a blow to the credibility of the Milwaukee-based federal prosecutor who brought the case, and to other investigations related to campaign fundraising by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, said former prosecutors and other legal experts.” (Wisconsin State Journal)

Justice’s Battle Moves to Fulbright and Baworski
“Michael Battle, the former Justice Department official who did an awkward Donald Trump impression in firing several U.S. attorneys last year, has been hired in the Washington office of the law firm Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. Battle, who resigned last month as director of department’s executive office for U.S. attorneys, was the department’s liaison with the top prosecutors around the country and was assigned the task of delivering the bad news to those targeted for dismissal – one in June and seven more in December.” (Wall Street Journal)

US Protects Iranian Protest Group in Iraq
“An Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, labeled a terrorist organization by the United States, gets protection from the U.S. military despite Iraqi pressure to leave the country. The U.S. considers the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, or MEK, a source of valuable intelligence on Iran. The group also is credited with helping expose Iran’s secret nuclear program through spying on Tehran for decades.” (CNN)

DC Madam Speaks with ABC
“Alleged “D.C. Madam” Deborah Jeane Palfrey has given an exclusive interview to ABC News. ABC News investigative correspondent Brian Ross recently interviewed Palfrey, who for over a decade operated what she terms an “erotic fantasy service” in the metropolitan Washington, DC area.” (ABC’s The Blotter)

Student Lender Planned to Woo Officials
“The founders of Student Loan Xpress had an explicit plan for corralling a bigger share of the lucrative student loan business: market to the schools’ financial aid offices. The company found many ways to court university financial aid directors; it put them on a company advisory board, paid at least two as consultants and sold stock in the venture to others, investigators and university officials say.” (NY Times)

Aides Escape Conflict Rules
While House and Senate lawmakers agreed in February to new rules requiring them to notify the public of any conflicts of interest they may have in pushing for earmarks to legislation, there remain no such guidelines for disclosure by another category of public servants — Congressional aides. Though in recent years significant attention has been paid to the lobbyist relatives of lawmakers — including the sons of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and former Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) — little public scrutiny has been paid to similar situations at the staff level.” (Roll Call)

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