Kline Campaign May Not Understand The Meaning of “Spy”
“U.S. Rep. John Kline [R-MN] said that a “double-agent” from the campaign of Democratic challenger Coleen Rowley tried to make an illegal campaign contribution and infiltrate his re-election campaign. Rowley’s campaign denied the allegations…[Intern David] Bailey gave his real e-mail address and his real address, which was subsequently used to learn his connection to the Rowley campaign, Kline spokesman Marcus Esmay said. Rowley’s campaign manager, Rogers, said, “It doesn’t sound like a very secretive operation when you leave your e-mail and address.” (AP)
Houston City Councilwoman Joins GOP Fray to Replace DeLay
“Houston City Council member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs today announced her write-in candidacy for the seat former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay abandoned.
“‘I will seek the Republican Party’s support to be its write-in candidate for Congressional District 22,’ Sekula-Gibbs said today in a prepared announcement.’
“Sugar Land Mayor David Wallace said Wednesday he will be a write-in candidate for the seat, jumping the gun on the state GOP in hopes of becoming the party standard-bearer.” (Houston Chronicle)
CIA Gives Libby Overviews of Briefings
“The CIA says it has provided short summaries of Vice President Dick Cheney’s daily security briefings to defense attorneys for his indicted former chief of staff. The documents, which were provided in response to a March court order, summarize a wide range of national security issues that consumed the working day of Cheney and I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who is accused of five counts of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI.” (AP)
Judges Consolidate Bush Spy Suits
“A federal panel of judges has consolidated 17 lawsuits throughout the United States filed against telephone companies accused of assisting the Bush administration to monitor Americans’ communications without warrants.” (AP)
Police Probe Second Newest McKinney Scuffle
“Police on Thursday continued to investigate an election-night scuffle between a bodyguard for ousted U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney and a television cameraman, but officials said criminal charges are unlikely in the case.
“The cameraman told police the bodyguard — a karate expert who has appeared in martial arts movies — shoved and punched him.” (AP)
Soldiers Say CIA Questioner Hit Detainee
“Several Army paratroopers testified Thursday they saw an ex-CIA contractor beat an Afghan detainee during a 2003 interrogation about rocket attacks on a remote base.” (AP)
Officials Probe Lieberman Web Site Crash
“[Lieberman Campaign Internet Consultant Dan Geary] said an analysis of the server suggested an attack that focused on specific components of the Web site such as internal files and e-mail…. Geary insists security was adequate, saying MyHostCamp’s servers are monitored by a larger company, Server Matrix, and administered by a major Web hosting company, The Planet. “Was it the greatest security ever? Well it just got hacked so, no,” Geary said. “But we had industry-standard security. We could stop bows and arrows and bullets, but not a tank, and that’s what this attack was.'” (AP)
Judge Won’t Dismiss Pro-Israel Spy Case
“A federal judge rejected claims Thursday that two former lobbyists’ constitutional rights would be violated if they were prosecuted under a World War I-era espionage law for receiving and disclosing national defense information.” (AP)
Ney Successor Padgett Can Run in Primary, Attorney General Says
“Attorney General Jim Petro said today that Republicans can appoint state Sen. Joy Padgett to replace Congressman Bob Ney on the Nov. 7 ballot, or have her run in a special primary election.” (Columbus Dispatch, AP)
Leavitt Family’s Foundation Activity Raises IRS’ Suspicions
“The Internal Revenue Service plans to audit a foundation that channeled tax-deductible donations from the Leavitt family through Southern Utah University back to the Leavitts in the form of student rent for family-owned student housing, the Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday.” (AP)
GOP Lawmaker, Challenger Spar over Abramoff Favors
“U.S. Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, and Democrat challenger Charlie Brown are sparring over recent reports on the congressman’s involvement in Northern Mariana Islands economic and political issues.
“Brown criticized Doolittle for what he said was the lawmaker’s opposition to efforts to impose U.S. immigration and wage laws on the territories ‘despite widespread reports of sweatshop garment factories, sex slavery and forced abortions.’
“Doolittle’s campaign office has replied with a statement saying that Brown’s latest attack shows the challenger is continuing to conduct a misguided, smear campaign that indicates how low the Democrat is willing to stoop for votes.” (Auburn (Calif.) Journal)
Pentagon Officials Quit at Agency Linked to Bribes
“The two top officials of Counterintelligence Field Activity at the Defense Department resigned this week amid investigations into their agencyâs classified contracts with a businessman who has pleaded guilty to bribing department officials and Representative Randy Cunningham.” (NY Times)
N.J. Officials Charged with Corruption
“Six state treasury workers were indicted Thursday on suspicion of accepting dinners, entertainment, golf outings and spa treatments from a company hired to collect back taxes. The state taxation director and his deputy were among those charged, the attorney general’s office said.” (AP)
Martinsville Waiting for Bill for Failed Scandal-Linked Center
The city of Martinsville will not know until next year whether it will have to pay back more than $100,000 in economic development incentives that went to a scandal-ridden military intelligence center that closed last month.
But it appears that the city will not be on the hook for all of the $500,000 state grant used in 2003 to lure now-defunct defense contractor MZM Inc. into locating its Foreign Supplier Assessment Center in the city. (Roanoke (Va.) Times)
