The Daily Muck

Everyone likes wiretaps! And by everyone, we of course mean the vice president, who disagreed with objections to the warantless surveillance program in a 2004 White House meeting. The meeting took place only one day before Gonzales made a midnight hospital run to convince John Ashcroft to approve the program, according to new written testimony by James Comey. (Washington Post)

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into the hiring practices of the firm building the U.S. embassy in Iraq, amid allegations of human trafficking and slave labor. (Wall Street Journal)

Six human rights groups have called for the release of 39 detainees who they maintain are being held in secret at Guantanamo Bay. At the same time, the administration is pushing ahead with military tribunals of Guantanamo detainees, arguing that prosecuting high-level suspects would be nearly impossible to accomplish in a standard criminal justice system. (NY Times, LA Times)

Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute is headed to the Senate today for confirmation of his fourth star. Expect questions to be asked about his early skepticism towards Bush’s Baghdad surge. (Associate Press)

A high ranking member of the Federalist Society’s California chapter recommended a replacement for then U.S. attorney Carol Lam in March of 2005, long before anyone outside of a handful of officials knew about a plan to replace U.S. Attorneys. (McClatchy Newspapers)

Although the Justice Department clearly focused on allegations of voter fraud, critics maintain it has been negligent in enforcing voter registration laws. (McClatchy Newspapers)

Scooter Libby’s sentencing is becoming an albatross for Republicans, who are pressured to pick sides on whether Libby should be pardoned. The decision is lose-lose as GOPers have to choose between party loyalty and respect for law. (LA Times)

Heads of the House Ethics Committee clashed (sub. req.) for the first time publicly as a result of the recent indictment of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA). (Roll Call)

Lawmakers are calling for an independent test of the efficacy of current military body armor after an NBC report disputed claims that the government’s armor is superior to alternative brands. (Associated Press)

House Republicans want to know how ABC News gained access to sensitive information about President Bush’s authorization of non-lethal, covert CIA action in Iran. (ABC’s The Blotter)

The U.S. Attorney of Pittsburgh Mary Buchanan was set to meet privately with congressional investigators today, but the meeting was moved back to June 15th. (Associated Press)

Passport has the latest twist on the increasingly bizarre case of former journalist Daniel Pearl. It seems two men recently accused of the murder by the Pakistani government have in fact been held by Pakistan’s security agencies since before the kidnapping. (Foreign Policy)