Ethics Watchdogs: Safavian Wasn’t Honest
In the waning days of the prosecution’s case against Jack Abramoff pal and former White House official David Safavian, government lawyers dispatched a short parade of two government lawyers and an investigator who said Safavian had lied to them about his dealings with disgraced superlobbyist Abramoff. Safavian faces five counts of lying to investigators. (AP)
Fundraiser admits funneling money to Bush campaign
A top Republican fund-raiser who is the leading figure in an Ohio political scandal pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegally funneling money to President George W. Bush’s 2004 reelection campaign. In an appearance in federal court, rare coin dealer Tom Noe admitted to three counts of violating campaign finance laws. He wrote checks to two dozen Republican supporters so they could attend a $2,000-a-plate Bush fund-raising dinner held in the state capital of Columbus on October 30, 2003. (AP)
House Approps Committee: The Lobbyist Factory
Since 1998, nearly 50 staffers from the House Appropriations Committee have become lobbyists, according to a new study from the Center for Public Integrity. The panel is responsible for billions of dollars in government spending. In the private sector, those staffers make big bucks lobbying their former Hill bosses to earmark federal funding for their clients’ products and services. (Bloomberg)
KY lt. guv won’t seek re-election
Kentucky’s lieutenant governor, a former corruption-fighting prosecutor, announced Wednesday he won’t seek re-election with Gov. Ernie Fletcher, whose administration has been caught up in a state hiring scandal. Lt. Gov. Steve Pence said he told Fletcher late Tuesday that he will not seek any office after his term expires next year. (AP)
Documents contradict IL guv’s statements
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s office reviewed and approved the hiring of state employees for hundreds of routine jobs such as highway workers and plumbers, according to documents. The hiring lists, obtained by The Associated Press, contradict the governor’s statements that his office did not decide who would be hired for civil service jobs. Such hirings are to be based solely on merit. For years, the Democratic governor has been dogged by allegations — which he adamantly denies — that he hands out state jobs to campaign donors and political allies. (AP)
Justice Dept. is criticized by ex-official on subpoenas
Subpoenas issued last month to reporters for The San Francisco Chronicle were criticized yesterday by a former chief spokesman for Attorney General John Ashcroft as a “reckless abuse of power.” The former spokesman, Mark Corallo, made similar statements in an affidavit filed in federal court yesterday. He said Mr. Ashcroft’s successor, Alberto R. Gonzales, had acted improperly in issuing the subpoenas. (NY Times)
2008 presidential hopefuls have mixed response to Jefferson raid
In the aftermath of the FBI raid on Rep. William Jeffersonâs (D-La.) congressional office this month, several members of Congress who have their sights set on the presidential nomination in 2008 have expressed varying degrees of concern about the unprecedented search and its possible constitutional ramifications. (The Hill)
