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GOP Rep. Faults White House on Iraq Site
“House Intelligence Chairman Peter Hoekstra [R-MI] criticized the Bush administration on Sunday for its handling of a trove of once-secret documents from Saddam Hussein’s covert nuclear program disclosed on a federal Web site.

“Hoekstra…complained the U.S. intelligence community hadn’t properly declassified the documents….

“President Bush’s director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, ordered the documents posted on the site last March, at the request of Republicans in Congress who wanted to show Saddam was a real threat.” (AP)

New Telemarketing Ploy Steers Voters on Republican Path
“An automated voice at the other end of the telephone line asks whether you believe that judges who ‘push homosexual marriage and create new rights like abortion and sodomy’ should be controlled. If your reply is ‘yes,’ the voice lets you know that the Democratic candidate in the Senate race in Montana, Jon Tester, is not your man….

“The Ohio-based conservatives behind the new campaign, who include current and former Procter & Gamble managers, say the automated system can reach vast numbers of people at a fraction of the cost of traditional volunteer phone banks and is the most ambitious political use of the telemarketing technology ever undertaken.

“But critics say the automated calls are a twist on push polls — a campaign tactic that is often criticized as deceptive because it involves calling potential voters under the guise of measuring public opinion, while the real intent is to change opinions with questions that push people in one direction or the other.” (NY Times)

U.S. Seeks to Silence Terror Suspect
“A suspected terrorist who spent years in a secret CIA prison should not be allowed to speak to a civilian attorney, the Bush administration argues, because he could reveal the agency’s closely guarded interrogation techniques.

“Human rights groups have questioned the CIA’s methods for questioning suspects, especially following the passage of a bill last month that authorized the use of harsh — but undefined — interrogation tactics.

“In recently filed court documents, the Justice Department said those methods, along with the locations of the CIA’s network of prisons, are among the nation’s most sensitive secrets. Prisoners who spent time in those prisons should not be allowed to disclose that information, even to a lawyer, the government said.” (AP)

FBI Willing to Go Undercover in Congress if Necessary
“The new chief of the FBI’s Criminal Division, which is swamped with public corruption cases, says the bureau is ramping up its ability to catch crooked politicians and might run an undercover sting on Congress.

“Assistant FBI Director James Burrus called the bureau’s public corruption program ‘a sleeping giant that we’ve awoken,’ and predicted the nation will see continued emphasis in that area ‘for many, many, many years to come.’

“So much evidence of wrongdoing is surfacing in the nation’s capital that Burrus recently committed to adding a fourth 15- to 20-member public corruption squad to the FBI’s Washington field office.” (McClatchy Newspapers)

Investigation at the C.I.A. Looks for Favors Among Friends
“At a ceremony at C.I.A. headquarters four years ago, a logistical specialist named Kyle Dustin Foggo was awarded an intelligence medal. It was the agency’s way of saying thanks for running the airlifts that sustained the C.I.A.’s efforts in Afghanistan, including shipments of armored cars along with saddles and oats for horseback-riding covert operators in remote regions of the country.

“Among the well-wishers at the event in 2002 were Mr. Foggo’s childhood friend, Brent R. Wilkes, a military contractor, and Representative Randy Cunningham, a Republican from Mr. Wilkes’s hometown, San Diego.

“That day might have been a high-water mark for all three. Mr. Cunningham, whose nickname is Duke, is in prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes from contractors. Mr. Wilkes, described in court papers as one of the contractors, is under investigation, and Mr. Foggo, who later became a top Central Intelligence Agency official, is under scrutiny for possible irregularities in awarding agency logistics deals to both Mr. Wilkes and another businessman, according to a recent Congressional report.” (NY Times)

Investigators Say Appropriations Panel Lost Appetite for Oversight
“Last month’s mass firing of House Appropriations Committee investigators followed years of declining appetite for tough oversight and partisan squabbles that the investigators say often stalled their work.

“Several members of the team, some of whom spoke on the condition that they not be identified by name, defend their record against committee spokesman John Scofield’s charge that recent work was not good. They suggest instead that majority Republicans had no appetite for oversight of the Bush administration.

“The investigators said they identified billions of dollars in potential savings every year, particularly in the Defense budget, and that they heard no complaints until Chairman Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., dismissed 60 contractors on Oct. 16.

“Joseph Stehr, a retired FBI agent who had been a member of the team off and on since 1985, said he remains stunned by Lewis’ action. ‘It reeks, it really does,’ he said. ‘It just amazes me that after 60 some years, that just with the swipe of a pencil the thing could all go away.’” (CQ)

Former Chairman Says Fired Investigators Did a ‘Good Job’
“The chairman of a House Appropriations subcommittee says he was surprised by Chairman Jerry Lewis’ [R-CA] dismissal last month of most of the committee’s investigators and said the team did a “good job.”

“Defense Subcommittee Chairman C.W. Bill Young [R-FL] of Florida, who chaired the full committee until fellow Republican Lewis of California took over last year, said he had “no inkling” that Lewis planned to fire 60 contractors, including former officials at the FBI, CIA, Defense Department and Government Accountability Office.

“The Surveys and Investigations team did most of its work for Young’s subcommittee, recommending billions of dollars in Defense budget savings each year.

“’I thought they did a good job,’ said Young. ‘They really know what they’re doing.’” (CQ)

Congressman Jefferson Probe Leads to Crisis in Nigerian Government
“Nigerian officials say the bribery investigation of Congressman William Jefferson (D-La.) has uncovered a massive corruption scheme involving several members at the highest levels of the Nigerian government.

“Acting on information provided by the FBI, Nigerian fraud investigators have now indicted Vice President Atiku Abubakar on 14 counts of corruption, involving tens of millions of dollars allegedly diverted from government accounts.

“According to Nuhu Ribadu, head of a new anti-corruption squad created by Nigeria’s president, $23 million of the diverted money is still missing. Ribadu said $6.7 million of the missing funds has been traced to a U.S. company tied to Congressman Jefferson’s family.” (The Blotter)

Dems Seek Answers on Iraq Documents Site
“Four Democratic senators demanded on Saturday that the Bush administration explain its decision to post documents from Saddam Hussein’s covert nuclear program on a now-shuttered federal Web site.

“The lawmakers told President Bush’s director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, that it was ‘shocking that sensitive documents directly related to the design of a nuclear weapon were made public by the executive branch.’

“Sens. Harry Reid of Nevada, Carl Levin of Michigan, Joe Biden of Delaware and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia also questioned whether political pressure from congressional Republicans played a role.” (AP)

FEC Relieves Abramoff of One More Legal Worry
“In a rare bit of good news for the disgraced lobbyist, the Federal Election Commission said Friday that Jack Abramoff has been cleared of campaign finance violations he had allegedly committed in 2002.

“In late August, the agency’s commissioners voted unanimously to dismiss a complaint filed earlier this year by TheRestofUs.org, a California-based, campaign finance watchdog. The group alleged that Abramoff exceeded the combined $25,000 federal contribution limit in 2002 by nearly $10,000.” (Roll Call)

Inquiry of Nev. Candidate Criticized
“The lawyer for a woman who accused the Republican gubernatorial candidate of assault said Friday that police have treated his client unfairly and were conducting the criminal probe like ‘Keystone Cops.’

“Chrissy Mazzeo, a 32-year-old single mother, was required to come to the police station for an interview, while Rep. John Gibbons was interviewed the day after the incident at his hotel, her lawyer, Richard Wright, said.

“‘The interview was accusatory, it was unpleasant, it was unfriendly and is in contrast to the way they treated Congressman Gibbons,’ Wright said.” (AP)

Md. Gov. Returns Campaign Contributions
“Gov. Robert Ehrlich returned more than $540,000 in political contributions to the Republican Party after state elections officials discovered that a federal account was used to funnel funds to his re-election campaign.

“A letter from the State Board of Elections, obtained by The Sun newspaper, said use of the federal account to pay for the governor’s re-election effort allowed Ehrlich to receive large sums of in-kind contributions from the state party by bypassing the $4,000 donation cap set by state law.” (AP)

All in the Family: Fathers, Daughters and Political Investigations
“The daughters of several powerful congressmen have been drawn into investigations of their fathers’ political and business dealings.

“As lobbyists, consultants or political action committee directors, the daughters’ fortunes appear closely tied to their fathers’ political connections, and now they are also coming under scrutiny.” (The Blotter)

Democrat Makes Gains in Bid to Take Harris’ Seat from GOP
“CQPolitics.com has changed its rating on the race in Florida’s 13th Congressional District to No Clear Favorite from Leans Republican — a reflection of problems faced by GOP nominee Vern Buchanan and the strong upset bid being staged by Democrat Christine Jennings in the race for the seat two-term Rep. Katherine Harris [R-FL] left open to run for the Senate….

“Buchanan’s personal wealth, which earlier established the car dealer as a leading financier for state and national Republican causes, enabled him to emerge this year as the front-runner for the party’s House nomination. But that also made him the main target for the four other major contenders, and for news stories that raised questions about his past business practices.

“Buchanan survived the primary with an 8 percentage-point advantage over the runner-up, but with a modest 32 percent of the overall vote. Despite a record-breaking infusion of personal funds into his campaign — and the general Republican leanings of a Gulf Coast regional district that gave 56 percent to
President Bush in 2004 — Buchanan’s reputation was seriously bruised.

“The questions about Buchanan’s personal ethics have carried over into the general election in a district where MacManus said money and property taxes are always prominent voter concerns.” (CQ Politics)

Democratic Leader Says Ohio Congressman’s Resignation Took Too Long
“House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi [D-CA] says Ohio Congressman Bob Ney’s resignation four days before the elections comes too late.

“in a statement, Pelosi says the Republican leadership allowed Ney to continue receiving his paycheck and benefits for seven weeks after his admission of guilt to criminal conspiracy charges. She calls that ‘an embarrassment to this institution and an insult to the American taxpayer.’

“Ney resigned after pleading guilty last month in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation.” (WCSH6-NBC)

Republicans Held Damage Control Calls Before Foley Scandal Broke
“The National Republican Campaign Committee along with the Foley campaign team held conference calls to control the potential damage regarding an ABC News’ inquiry into correspondence between then-Congressman Mark Foley (R-Fla.) and a former congressional page….

“NRCC Communications Director Carl Forti and Kirk Fordham, then the chief of staff to NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds, participated in the calls, the first of which took place on Wednesday, Sept. 27, according to the reporter Ben Smith.” (The Blotter)

Sen. Obama Linked to Accused Fundraiser
“Responding to a newspaper report, Sen. Barack Obama [D-IL] said Saturday that arrangements he had with a political fundraiser accused of shaking down companies might have raised the appearance of impropriety.

“Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko, whom Gov. Rod Blagojevich has described as a friend and a fundraiser, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he plotted to squeeze millions of dollars in kickbacks out of investment firms seeking state business. He also has pleaded not guilty to obtaining a $10.5 million loan from General Electric Capital Corp. through fraud and swindling a group of investors.

“Obama and his wife closed on a $1.65 million home last year in Chicago; the same day, Rezko’s wife closed on a $625,000 lot next door, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

“Both lots were once part of the same estate but were listed for sale separately. A city ordinance required Rezko to fence the dividing line.

“Obama paid Rezko $104,500 in January for part of the lot, to create more space between his house and the fence. Obama has said the arrangements were ethical and proper.” (AP)

Indicted Ally of IL Gov. $50 million in Debt
“Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s longtime friend and one-time top fundraiser Antoin ‘Tony’ Rezko is more than $50 million in debt, according to disclosures in court Friday.

“The hearing before a federal judge offered a glimpse into the complicated, high-stakes finances of a man at the center of a scandal that has cast a shadow over Blagojevich’s administration and re-election campaign.

“Emerging details portray Rezko–who faces indictments on kickback and corporate fraud charges–as a hectic dealmaker whose ventures stretch from Papa John’s Pizza outlets to a South Loop land deal to a bid to build a power plant in Iraq.” (Chicago Tribune)

Voter Fraud Indictments Handed Down
“Four people have been indicted on charges of voter fraud in Kansas City, officials said Wednesday.

“Investigators said questionable registration forms for new voters were collected by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, a group that works to improve minority and low-income communities.

“The four indicted — Kwaim A. Stenson, Dale D. Franklin, Stephanie L. Davis and Brian Gardner — were employed by ACORN as registration recruiters. They were each charged with two counts.” (KMBC-TV Kansas City)

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