More Questions Raised over KY Blog Ban
Kentucky officials have said the blog ban on state computers blocks blogs of every stripe. So why are some blogs — like TPMmuckraker — banned, while others, belonging to Rush Limbaugh and Matt Drudge, are still available? Now even the New York Times is curious. (NYTimes)
And in other muck. . .
Cheney Says He Might Testify in Leak Case
Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday he might have to testify in the CIA leak trial of his former chief of staff. Cheney made the comment in a CNN interview, following last month’s suggestion by prosecutors that the vice president would be a logical witness in the case of I. Lewis Libby, who is accused of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI. Libby is “one of the finest men I’ve ever known,” Cheney said, then declined further comment. “I may be called as a witness.” (AP, full text of interview)
FBI : We Likely Used Crimiinal Outfits to Gain Private Data
Before a Congressional panel, a bureau official admitted that it was probable that FBI agents had used “data brokers” who had illegally impersonated individuals in order to get their private financial and phone records. One such firm even successfully obtained the FBI’s own phone records — “It is easy to imagine how this type of data theft can negatively impact ongoing investigations,” an FBI lawyer told the panel. (AP)
Whistleblower Says Bush Officials Traded Abramoff Favors
“In an interview with CBS News Wednesday evening, Wayne Smith, a Sioux tribal member whose grandfather was an Indian chief and previously led oversight of Indian gaming for the Bush Adminstration, said he was unprepared for the “raw political opportunism” that he witnessed as a member of the Administration.” (Raw Story)
Doolittle’s Wife Banked More Than $66,000 from Abramoff’s Firm
“A report on a Senate investigation into lobbyist Jack Abramoff’s shady dealings said Thursday that the company owned by the wife of Rep. John Doolittle, R-Roseville, was paid more than $66,000 over two years out of funds from a California Indian gaming tribe for work she did for Abramoff’s personal charity.” (Sac Bee, AP)
Senate’s Abramoff Report Disputes Rep. Ney
Here’s The Washington Post’s write-up of yesterday’s McCain report. (WaPo, and Raw Story)
AP: Abramoff called Agua Caliente “annoying losers”
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff had this to say about the Agua Caliente tribe of Palm Springs: âThe annoying losers are the only ones which have this kind of money and part with it so quickly.â (AP)
House Rules on Travel Companions Were Skirted â Then Loosened
“Members of the House of Representatives and their staffs skirted congressional travel rules about 190 times in a 5½-year period ending in mid-2005 by bringing unauthorized companions on trips bankrolled by private groups, the Center for Public Integrity has found.” (CPI)
Poor Form on Senate Guest Disclosure
“A Center for Public Integrity analysis found that the filings for about 16 percent of the privately funded travel taken by House members and staffers from January 2000 through June 2005 â about 2,700 of nearly 17,000 trips â reported a companion for whom the sponsor also covered expenses. In comparison, fewer than 5 percent of Senate forms (roughly 300 of more than 6,200 trips) disclosed companion travel. Disclosure forms for privately funded trips used by the House and the Senate are similar, but differ quite a bit when it comes to the information required about companions. The reason for the disparity could be explained largely by the differences between the forms used by the two houses of Congress.” (CPI)
