The Daily Muck

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Scandals Alone Could Cost Republicans Their House Majority
“Indictments, investigations and allegations of wrongdoing have helped put at least 15 Republican House seats in jeopardy, enough to swing control to the Democrats on Tuesday even before the larger issues of war, economic unease and President Bush are invoked.

“With just five days left before Election Day, allegations are springing up like brushfires. Four GOP House seats have been tarred by lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s influence-peddling scandal. Five have been adversely affected by then-Rep. Mark Foley’s unseemly contacts with teenage male House pages. The remaining half a dozen or so could turn on controversies including offshore tax dodging, sexual misconduct and shady land deals.

“Not since the House bank check-kiting scandal of the early 1990s have so many seats been affected by scandals, and not since the Abscam bribery cases of the 1970s have the charges been so serious. But this year’s combination of breadth and severity may be unprecedented, suggested Julian E. Zelizer, a congressional historian at Boston University.” (WaPo)

Allen’s Options
“On October 20, 2000 — just 18 days before former Virginia Governor George Allen was elected to the U.S. Senate — Xybernaut, a Virginia-based technology company, on whose board Allen served, held an early annual shareholder meeting and awarded Allen a tidy bonus of 50,000 stock options. Allen was granted the stock as part of his re-election to the board at a time when polls showed him to be the favorite in the impending senate election against Democrat Chuck Robb, and when it was clear that he would have to resign his board seat if and when he became a senator. Senate rules forbid members from serving on corporate boards.

“The issuance of these options, whose existence is confirmed by the Form Five filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that The American Prospect is posting in conjunction with this piece, raises questions about why Xybernaut (which filed for bankruptcy in 2005) granted them to Allen so soon before his election to the Senate, and what, if anything, the company expected in return for them.” (The American Prospect)

State Dept. Vetted Speakers for Criticism of Bush Administration
“An internal State Department review has found that U.S. officials screened the public statements and writings of private citizens for criticism of the Bush administration before deciding whether to send them on foreign speaking assignments.

“The screenings amounted to “virtual censorship” in the State Department’s selection of speakers, said a report by the department’s Inspector General’s Office. McClatchy Newspapers obtained a copy of the 22-page report, which was completed in September.

“The vetting practice appears to have been part of the Bush administration’s efforts to control information, muffle dissenting views and promote positive assessments of its policies to foreign audiences.” (McClatchy Newspapers)

Nervous Defense Contractors Watching Elections
“After years of surging military spending by the Bush administration and a Republican-led Congress, the nation’s defense industry is trying to gauge what life would be like if power on Capitol Hill shifts to the Democrats….

“One consensus seems to be that, regardless of who winds up in control after next Tuesday’s election, there’ll be no draconian shifts that would roll back military budgets significantly.

“At the same time, however, newly empowered Democrats could be inclined to take a harder look at defense contractors and major procurement projects while intensifying their opposition to administration policies in Iraq.” (McClatchy Newspapers)

Late K St. Money Shifting to Democrats
“After years of giving Republicans an increasing share of their personal donations, lobbyists from top K Street firms reversed course in September and began sending more of their money to Democrats as the minority party closed in on a Congressional takeover, a Roll Call analysis of Federal Election Commission records found.

“The pattern reflects the cresting and possible decline of the K Street Project — a years-long drive by Republicans to shore up their majorities on Capitol Hill by placing more GOP partisans in downtown lobbying posts. As Republican lobbyists began to tip the balance at firms formerly dominated by Democrats, they have been able to fill the campaign coffers of their allies in Congress.” (Roll Call)

Chafee Staffer Suspended for Breaking Senate Rules
“A staffer for Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee was suspended without pay Wednesday for distributing e-mails criticizing Chafee’s Democratic challenger using a Senate computer, a violation of Senate rules.

“Lammis Vargas, 25, an assistant in Chafee’s office in Providence, was suspended after admitting she sent at least four e-mails critical of Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.” (AP)

Police Release 911 Call About Alleged Assault by Nevada Gubernatorial Candidate
“Police on Wednesday released a 911 call in which a woman repeated claims by a casino cocktail waitress that Nevada’s Republican candidate for governor [Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV)] attacked her in a parking garage near the Las Vegas Strip.

“The Oct. 13 call supports previous statements by Chrissy Mazzeo that she called a friend and family member immediately after contacting police.

“The call was placed by a woman who did not give her name but identified herself as Mazzeo’s sister. She told the operator Mazzeo had called one hour earlier to report the alleged assault.” (AP)

Stinging from Scandal, Tribes Trim Donations
“Indian tribes have cut back this year on political contributions to congressional candidates after a lobbying scandal that ensnared some tribes.

“Contributions from 216 tribes are nearly 30% lower so far in the 2005-06 election cycle than they were at this point in 2003-04, ending six years of sharp increases, according to PoliticalMoneyLine and the Center for Responsive Politics, non-partisan groups that track campaign money.

“The decline reflects caution by tribes after the January guilty plea of Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist who admitted directing tribal clients to give lawmakers millions to sway legislation and policy. The tribes were not implicated in the criminal probe but were stung by the scrutiny of their politicking.” (USA Today)

Detainees’ Attorneys Ask Court to Allow Challenges
“Attorneys for captives in the Guantanamo Bay military prison asked a federal appeals court yesterday to reject a provision of the new military-commission law that strips hundreds of detainees of their right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts.

“The lawyers, joined by a group of retired judges from both political parties, argued that the United States cannot indefinitely imprison foreign nationals in a military prison without charging them with crimes and deny them the chance to test the evidence against them in the U.S. justice system.” (WaPo)

Sweeney Says Police Blotter Circulated is a Fake
“Less than a week before election day, allegations of domestic violence and political dirty tricks are flying in an upstate New York congressional race involving powerful incumbent Republican Congressman John Sweeney.

“Yesterday, Sweeney’s hometown newspaper, The Albany Times Union, was the first to report details of a domestic violence report allegedly phoned in to police in December 2005 by Sweeney’s wife and said a reporter found evidence to corroborate it.

“A document described as the official police blotter report of the incident was circulated to several media outlets, including ABC News, last week by an intermediary who said it came from a Democratic source not connected to the Gillibrand campaign.

“A spokeswoman for Congressman Sweeney issued a statement to ABC News saying the police blotter report was a total fabrication. “This document that is currently being circulated is a piece of campaign propaganda in the continued smear campaign against Congressman John Sweeney and his family. It is not authentic. It is false, and it is a concoction by our opposition,” said Sweeney spokeswoman Melissa Carlson, who refused to answer any further questions.” (The Blotter)

Is Mark Foley Still Running for Congress?
“In Florida’s sixteenth congressional district, which was recently vacated by former Rep.
Mark Foley, Republican Joe Negron is locked in a tight race with Democrat Tim Mahoney. A poll released on October 15 showed Mahoney with an seven-point lead, but as the shock over Foley’s misdeeds has subsided, many voters in this staunchly Republican district may be giving Negron a second look….

“Florida election law held that it was too late for the GOP to replace Foley on the ballot and further stipulated that all votes cast for Foley be credited to Negron, who has been officially designated the GOP nominee by party leaders.

“Here’s the problem: Article I, Section 5, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution clearly states that “Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members,” which is to say, the House of Representatives is the only body empowered to approve or reject the credentials of its elected members. If Florida’s Secretary of State certifies Joe Negron the winner of the sixteenth district election, the House can still refuse to seat him.

“There would be good cause to deny Negron his seat. That Florida election law allows for a transfer of votes between Foley and Negron does not make the law constitutional. There’s a strong argument to be made that when voters tick off a name on a ballot, they mean to vote for that candidate, and only that candidate. If Floridians wish to send Joe Negron to Congress, they can vote for him as a write-in candidate. This is precisely the case in District 22 in Texas, where Tom Delay’s name remains on the ballot, and where supporters of the new Republican nominee, Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, must exercise the write-in option to vote for their candidate.” (HuffPo)

Coulter Voting Case to Prosecutors?
“Conservative columnist Ann Coulter has refused to cooperate in an investigation into whether she voted in the wrong precinct, so the case will probably be turned over to prosecutors, Palm Beach County’s elections chief said Wednesday….

“Knowingly voting in the wrong precinct is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.” (AP)

Congressman May Have Underreported Foreign Real Estate Holdings
“Democratic congressional candidate John Pavich wants his opponent, incumbent Congressman Jerry Weller, to answer questions regarding property the congressman owns in Nicaragua.

“In a telephone press conference Tuesday, Pavich referred to an investigation by the Chicago Reader newspaper, which said the Morris Republican may own more property in Nicaragua than reported on his ethics statements the past two years.” (Morris (Ill.) Daily Herald)

Texas Must Halt Some Voter Fraud Cases
“A federal judge has ordered the Texas attorney general to stop prosecuting people who help elderly and disabled voters cast mail-in ballots.

“The state Democratic party had sued the attorney general and secretary of state, accusing the two Republicans of suppressing the vote.

“Texas law bars people from handling or mailing absentee ballots for voters who are not relatives or do not live with them. State legislators amended it in 2003 to permit such assistance if the helper signs the envelope with a name and address.

“Since 2003, Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office has indicted eight people on voter fraud charges related to the casting of mail-in ballots for elderly and disabled voters.” (AP)

Alleged Al-Qaida Says He Was Tortured
“Alleged al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla claims he was tortured during his 3 1/2 years in U.S. custody as an enemy combatant, including threats of execution and being forced stand for long periods.

“Padilla’s lawyers are asking a federal judge to dismiss the terror support charges against him because he suffered from ‘outrageous government conduct’ during more than 1,300 days in military custody….

“In the court papers, filed last month, Padilla claims that:

“–Interrogators threatened him with “imminent execution” or with painful cuts.

“–He was often forced to wear a hood and stand in “stress positions” for long periods. Similar tactics were used by U.S. personnel at Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison.

“–He was given a form of a “truth serum” drug that may have been LSD or PCP.

“–Noxious fumes were sometimes introduced into his cell and he was forced to endure extreme heat and cold, bright lights or total darkness, denied opportunities to shower for weeks and deprived of sleep.

“–He was not provided with a copy of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, for almost two years.” (AP)

Lawyers, Former Judges Push for Detainees to Retain Habeas Rights
“Attorneys for captives in the Guantanamo Bay military prison asked a federal appeals court yesterday to reject a provision of the new military-commission law that strips hundreds of detainees of their right to challenge their detention in U.S. courts.

“The lawyers, joined by a group of retired judges from both political parties, argued that the United States cannot indefinitely imprison foreign nationals in a military prison without charging them with crimes and deny them the chance to test the evidence against them in the U.S. justice system.” (WaPo)

Will Porter Goss Tell All?
“Goss stresses that he won’t decide for sure until after next week’s election – and a person close to the former CIA director says Goss is also considering other options, from teaching to consulting. And even if he does write a book, Washington insiders and intelligence operatives who may be salivating-or trembling-at the prospect of a kiss-and-tell may be disappointed. ‘I’m looking at doing a book that would make a positive contribution. This is not about gotcha,’ says Goss. ‘I’ve been keeping my mouth shut for two years.'” (Time)

Latest Muckraker
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: