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So Duke Cunningham got 8 years, 4 months. (SDUT) Where does it go from here?

The Washington Post reported Friday that the investigation has spread into the Department of Defense, particularly into an intelligence agency called CIFA (Counterintelligence Field Activity). (Daily Muck)

And as Josh mentioned, the CIA has opened an investigation into Kyle "Dusty" Foggo’s ties to Brent Wilkes. Wilkes bribed Duke Cunningham to get contracts – we know that. But Wilkes was much closer to Foggo. How close? From the San Diego Union Tribune:

Foggo and Wilkes attended school together at Hilltop High in Chula Vista and San Diego State University, served as best men in each other’s weddings and named their sons after each other….

At ADCS corporate headquarters, Wilkes set aside an office next to his executive suite where Foggo could work when he leaves the CIA, according to several former ADCS employees and business associates.

The CIA has said that the investigation is just routine, "standard practice." But according to the SDUT‘s sources, the CIA did award some contracts to a company closely affiliated to Wilkes, Archer Logistics. Because the CIA is funded through a "black budget," those contracts are secret. (SDUT, ABC, Newsweek, AP, TPM)

Laura Rozen argues that the national security and counterintelligence implications of the Duke Cunningham investigation are just beginning to be uncovered. (War & Piece)

Buying a Home the Duke Cunningham Way

The San Diego Union Tribune doggedly tracks down the myriad bribes and phony defense contracts that went into Duke’s home purchase. It even includes a handy graphic. (SDUT)

DeLay Staggers from the Ashes 

DeLay faces a primary challenge tomorrow, and it’s not going to be easy. If he doesn’t get over 50%, then he’ll face a runoff, most likely against Tom Campbell, who looks like a serious challenger. Campbell recently received the endorsement of The Houston Chronicle. The AP noted Saturday that Campbell is running on DeLay’s weakness: integrity. DeLay, on the other hand, is running in large part on his ability to bring home pork. Nevertheless, even his most loyal supporters seem to be wavering. (Houston Chronicle, AP, ABC, WaPo, NYT)

Tomorrow, as the returns come in, DeLay will be spending time with with his most faithful supporters: lobbyists. He’s holding a fundraiser at a lobbying firm. [Washington Wire]

Ralph Reed Takes Another Hit

An email uncovered by the Atlanta Journal Constitution shows that Ralph Reed knew he was being paid by a gambling company when he worked to kill an anti-gambling bill. The company, eLottery, was Abramoff’s client at the time. It’s long been obvious that Reed knew just what he was doing (see my post from Saturday for why), but such direct evidence sure doesn’t hurt. (AJC, TPM)

How to Shame a Lobbyist

Jeffrey Birnbaum reports on what it takes to get a lobbyist to stop representing the Sudan. (WaPo

Katharine Harris

As Rep. Harris (R-FL) fights off the bad publicity from her involvement with MZM owner Mitchell Wade, the Hotline points out that the national GOP establishment may not be so chagrined. Harris is mounting a run for Senate, but she’s not seen as a strong candidate. This might be the knockout punch, clearing the way for Mark Foley. (Hotline

Virgil Goode’s Earmark

Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) didn’t bring home an MZM facility on his own, reports The Richmond Times-Dispatch. After Mitchell Wade delivered a hefty sum in contributions, Goode (R-VA) approached Sen. Warner (R-VA) about supporting the MZM facility. Warner then put in a $10 million earmark request, but it doesn’t seem like that went anywhere. A $9 million appropriation was slipped into an annual defense spending bill at the end of 2003 – that’s what brought home the bacon. According to Wade’s plea, Goode was responsible. (RTD)

"Reform"

The LA Times reports on the tension over regulating lobbyists’ participation in fundraising. For now, there seems to be a consensus that fundraisers are necessary, but maybe ought to be a tad less flashy (LAT):

A business lobbyist who declined to be named because he did not want to offend lawmakers he dealt with said his invitations to fundraisers at expensive resorts had declined. But he said he was still inundated with invitations to more modest affairs; his calendar included 14 such events one day last week.

H. Stewart Van Scoyoc, head of a Washington lobbying firm, said bookings of a special room in his offices for fundraising events had dropped.

The room, with a view of the Capitol’s dome, is being used about two times a week this year, down from three to five times a week at this point last year.

"People are being more cautious," Van Scoyoc said.

U.S. News reports on Congress’ relucatance to restrict privately funded travel. (U.S. News)

But Roll Call reports that many members of Congress and their staff are cutting out their usual spring travel plans. (Roll Call)

The House ethics committee says that it’s finally operational again…but Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) is safe for now, because of the rule that prevents filing a complaint within 60 days of an election. (Roll Call

When the cat’s away… The AP reports on Rep. Joel Hefley’s (R-CO) plans to reinvigorate the ethics committee now that Tom DeLay’s no longer in charge. (AP

More disclosure for lobbyists and lawmakers is all the rage these days, but, as USA Today reports, the Senate disclosure system is a dinosaur. (USA Today)

Did we miss something? Was there local coverage in your area we should know about? Email us at talk@talkingpointsmemo.com with the Subject line "Daily Muck" and let us know.

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