Ney Expected to Plead Guilty Today
” Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges related to his dealings with the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff, lawyers and others with knowledge of the investigation said Thursday.
A guilty plea would make Ney, a six-term congressman, the first member of Congress to confess to criminal charges in the Abramoff investigation, which has focused on the actions of several current and former Republican lawmakers who had been close to the former lobbyist.” (NY Times News Service)
Padgett Wins OH-18 GOP Primary
“Republicans picked a party-backed state senator Thursday to replace embattled U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, who dropped out of the congressional race amid a corruption scandal.
“Sen. Joy Padgett won a special primary against four other candidates in the 18th District.” (AP)
The Patty Roe Story: The Interesting Ethics of Congressman Rick Renzi
“Congressional rules are designed to prevent âseniorâ staffers from simultaneously having two careers, in order to prevent conflicts of interest. Federal law and ethics rules also bar any staffers from working on political campaigns unless they do it on their free time. And no campaign work can be done from a government office, such as a congressional office building. But the office of ethically-challenged Republican Congressman Rick Renzi of Arizona has figured out a way to trample on the spirit of both rules.” (Harper’s)
Dems Can’t Remove Tomlinson from BBG
“Democratic members of the federal Broadcasting Board of Governors yesterday failed in a bid to remove Chairman Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, who has been accused of improperly using his office to benefit himself and a friend.
“In two party-line votes, the BBG’s three Republicans and three Democrats first split over forcing Mr. Tomlinson to resign and then over revoking his authority to run the agency that oversees Voice of America and other government broadcasting operations. ” (Washington Times)
DLC May Lose Tax Exemption
“[In] a previously unreported action, the Internal Revenue Service has revoked the [Democratic Leadership Council’s] tax exemption on the grounds that it primarily benefited a private group–Democrats, and particularly “New Democrats” running for or holding office–rather than the community at large. The DLC has sued in federal court to overturn the decision; the outcome could affect the spreading use (abuse?) of tax-exempts by politicians and those seeking to influence them. Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff is just one character who has used money from tax-exempts to get the attention of legislators….
“The IRS began auditing the DLC in 1999 and in 2002 revoked its exemption for 1997, 1998 and 1999 (all the years audited), hitting it with a $20,083 back tax bill. The government doesn’t claim the DLC got involved in elections. Rather it cites the DLC’s founding by Democrats; its training workshops held exclusively for Democrats; and [DLC chief Al] From’s stated goal of coming up with new centrist policies that would make “our party” the majority. ” (Forbes)
Bush to Campaign with Embattled Congressman
“President Bush will appear at an Oct. 3 fundraiser for Rep. John Doolittle, who is facing an aggressive Democratic challenge in November from retired Air Force officer Charles Brown.” (SacBee)
GOP Leaders Back Bush on Wiretapping, Tribunals
“Congress’s Republican leadership yesterday threw its weight behind two of President Bush’s most controversial national security programs, warrantless wiretapping and extrajudicial military tribunals.
“But the party leaders are having trouble getting all their members on board, including the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. And by backing the president’s legislative demands, the leadership risks being labeled by Democrats as a rubber stamp for an unpopular president.” (WaPo)
Senate Panel Rejects Bush Military Tribunals Plan
“In a stinging rebuke to the US president, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 15 to nine in favor of a bill drafted by Republican chairman [Senator] John Warner [R-VA].
“The outlines of the president’s plan, which would allow tougher questioning of detainees while protecting US interrogators from being prosecuted for warcrimes, were approved Wednesday by a US House of Representatives panel.” (AFP)
Did the FCC Destroy an Inconvenient Memo?
“The Federal Communications Commission ordered its staff to destroy all copies of a draft study that suggested greater concentration of media ownership would hurt local TV news coverage, a former lawyer at the agency says….
“Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. received a copy of the report “indirectly from someone within the FCC who believed the information should be made public,” according to Boxer spokeswoman Natalie Ravitz.” (AP)
Former Nev. Politician Pleads Guilty
“Lance Malone, a former Clark County commissioner, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said. Malone is scheduled to enter his plea Monday.” (Boston Globe)
