Former Prisoner Tells of Torture at Guantanamo
“A German-born Turk, who was held for four years in the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, has alleged systematic torture in the hands of the US military, from beatings to being chained to a ceiling for days.
“Murat Kurnaz, 24, who was released in August because of lack of evidence he was involved in terrorist activities, said he endured ‘many types of torture — from electric shocks to having oneâs head submerged in water, (subjection to) hunger and thirst, or being shackled and suspended.’â (AFP)
Democratic Leadership Hopefuls Marked by Ethical Questions
“Though incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promises to push through ethical reforms in Congress, both of the Democrats vying to be her second-in-command have long histories of earmarking, close relationships with corporate interests, and using their positions to raise millions of dollars in campaign contributions.” (LATimes)
Reid Rolls Out Plans for Clean Elections
“The Senate Democratic leadership team plans a long, laborious slog for the Senate next year even as party leaders continue to formalize their legislative agenda for the 110th Congress â an agenda that already includes a couple of surprises.
“At a breakfast with reporters Tuesday, incoming Majority Leader Harry Reid [D-NV] warned that the âdo-nothingâ Congress, as his party has labeled recent Republican rule in the chamber, will soon be over….
“Principally, Reid said that would mean passing a bill to create criminal penalties for election fraud, including offenses such as voter misinformation campaigns carried out by robo-calls and misleading flyers.
“Noting that such tactics were used in both the Missouri and Maryland Senate races, Schumer said, âI think the person or people who authorized that should go to jail for 10 years.â Currently, civil fines usually are the most serious penalty assessed for such ploys. Schumer added that a separate unit should be created within the Justice Department to deal with cases of election fraud.” (Roll Call)
Pelosi Takes Risk By Supporting Murtha
“House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi faces a major leadership test Thursday, barely a week into her new role, as Democrats vote on her choice for majority leader. She’s supporting a lawmaker once caught up in a bribery scandal and known more recently for trading votes for pork projects.
“Pelosi’s prestige is on the line after endorsing longtime ally John Murtha of Pennsylvania to be the No. 2 Democrat in place of her longtime rival Steny Hoyer of Maryland.” (AP, Roll Call, Washington Times)
Louisiana Runoff Lacks Partisan Split, But Not Intrigue
“There is no mystery which party will hold Louisianaâs 2nd District in the 110th Congress, even though this yearâs election will be decided in a Dec. 9 runoff under the stateâs unique election system: It will be the Democrats. The two runoff candidates produced by the Nov. 7 first-round election â in which all candidates, regardless of party, ran on the same ballot â are both Democrats.
“But that hardly means the matchup, between scandal-dogged eight-term incumbent William J. Jefferson and state Rep. Karen Carter, lacks serious intrigue.
“The longterm loyalty Jefferson has engendered in the black-majority, New Orleans-based district netted him a first-place finish on Nov. 7, but with just 30 percent in the 13-candidate field.
“And his ethics problems may make it very difficult for him to prevail in next monthâs runoff. While Jefferson has not been indicted and maintains his innocence, he is the subject of a lengthy and highly publicized investigation into bribery allegations, including an FBI raid on his House office and reports of $90,000 in cash hidden in his freezer.” (CQ Politics)
Congressmen Urge that Voting Machines Provide a ‘Paper Trail’
“Two longtime congressional critics of electronic voting machines seized on the turmoil in Florida Wednesday to renew a call for a paper trail of voter ballots.
“As investigators in Sarasota County, Fla., continued to sort out why 18,000 blank votes, or ‘undervotes,’ were recorded in the race to replace Rep. Katherine Harris, New Jersey Democratic Rep. Rush Holt charged that the inaccuracy of the machines ‘poses a direct threat to the integrity of our electoral system and to our nation’s democracy.’
“‘Without a voter-verified paper audit trail, no satisfactory resolution is possible,’ said Holt, adding that machine problems also cropped up in New Jersey. ‘One side or the other will always doubt the result.'” (McClatchy Newspapers)
Judge Outlines Evidence in CIA Leak Case
“A federal judge outlined how much classified evidence former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby must have access to in the CIA leak case Wednesday, leaving defense attorneys and prosecutors to debate how to black out or summarize it before trial in January.
“The fight over classified materials is a key issue leading up to the trial. Prosecutors say Libby is trying to get the case dismissed by demanding so much sensitive information that the government has no choice but to refuse.” (AP)
After Defeat, Abramoff-Linked Lawmaker Looks forward to Home
“Annette Pombo wants her husband home. Because of last week’s election, that’s right where he’s going.
“She’s got a list, a long list, of stuff that needs to be done,” [Rep.] Richard Pombo [(R-CA)] said with a laugh Wednesday afternoon. . . .
“Pombo said no one has yet tried recruiting him. He has no plans for his Washington townhouse. . . .
“Opponents. . . were successful in linking Pombo to disgraced Republican lobbyist and admitted felon Jack Abramoff, whose tribal clients contributed heavily to Pombo’s past campaigns. Pombo himself had only met Abramoff in passing, although his staff had dealings with the lobbyist’s office.
“‘It was all millions and millions of dollars of negative attacks on me,’ Pombo said.” (Sacramento Bee)
He describes tactics that he says included anonymous billboards, misleading fliers distributed at church parking lots and late-night telephone calls he believes were intended to make potential GOP voters mad at him. Still, Pombo also seemed in good spirits Wednesday, shaking his head and chuckling sardonically at political gamesmanship.
Gov. Ryan Fights to Keep Part of Pension
“A lawyer argued Wednesday that former Gov. George Ryan is entitled to part of his government pension despite his conviction on federal racketeering charges.
“The General Assembly Retirement System suspended Ryan’s $197,000 annual pension in September on the recommendation of Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
“Ryan’s lawyer, former Gov. James Thompson, argued he should get to keep pensions from earlier government jobs he held, which officials estimate to be about $65,000 per year.” (AP)
Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others
“As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid [D-NV] was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.
“A spokesperson for Reid, elected yesterday as the Senate Majority Leader, said the senator had done nothing illegal or unethical….
“A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff’s clients ‘were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid.'” (The Blotter)
Intel Aide Makes Case to Clear Leak Charge
“Larry Hanauer, the House Intelligence Committee aide whose access to classified information was suspended last month, met on Wednesday with senior GOP and Democratic staffers on the panel in a bid to clear his name.
“Sporting ‘Free Larry’ buttons, Hanauer and his lawyer, Jonathan Turley, spent about an hour with the Republican and Democratic staff directors on Intelligence, as well as the majority and minority counsels, according to sources familiar with the meeting. The discussions took place in a secure committee room.
“Hanauerâs access to classified materials was suspended by Intelligence Chairman Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) in mid-October following the publication of a Sept. 24 New York Times article on a secret National Intelligence Estimate for Iraq.” (Roll Call)
New New Rules Urged at Lobby Office
“A commission reviewing the Office of State-Federal Relations, which lobbies for state interests in Washington, has recommended that its work continue but with stricter oversight.
“The Sunset Advisory Commission, made up of legislators and members of the public, voted Tuesday to recommend that the office use written contract management guidelines and competitive procurement procedures when hiring outside consultants.
“The office should also include a termination clause in contracts and ensure that there are no conflicts of interest between the contractor and others that could jeopardize the state’s interests, the commission recommended.” (AP)
Ark. Gov. Defends Gift Registries
“Gift registries have been set up to help friends of Arkansas first lady Janet Huckabee choose gifts for the Huckabees’ new half-million dollar home as they prepare to leave the governor’s mansion.
“Gov. Mike Huckabee, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, has tangled with the state ethics panel in the past over gifts….
“Arkansas law prohibits public servants from accepting any gift worth more than $100, unless the gift is for personal, professional or business reasons independent of the recipient’s official status. Wedding gifts are not prohibited.
“The Arkansas Ethics Commission has five times found that Huckabee violated state ethics guidelines, including letters of warning and reprimand and fines after finding Huckabee failed to report a $43,150 payment he received from his 1994 lieutenant governor’s campaign for use of his personal airplane.” (AP)
