The Daily Muck

The House’s efforts to pass ethics reform that give weight to outside complaints has stalled yet again; it is now two months since a task force was supposed to have presented a model for going forward with legislation. For his part, task force leader Rep. Michael Capuano (D-MA) doesn’t understand why his peers are wary of oversight. (Associated Press, The Hill)

Angry at Libby, but you don’t remember why? Here’s a timeline of the CIA leak to refresh your memory. (Associated Press)

The New York Times’ lawsuit against the Justice and Defense Departments has been dismissed. The Times was suing both agencies for refusing to turn over documents associated with the warantless wiretapping program. (Associated Press)

CREW has just completed a study of the Bush administration’s enforcement of executive authority entitled “Crossing the Line”. The analysis can’t quite be called exhaustive as it came out yesterday, back when Scooter Libby was still going to jail. (CREW)

In the continuing trial of Jose Padilla, defense lawyers attacked a government expert witness who testified to interviewing high-ranking al-Qaida officials, but refuses to name who he interviewed, what was discussed, whether torture was involved, or even for which government he was working with at the time. (Associated Press)

Wolfowitz has joined the American Enterprise Institute. (WSJ’s Washington Wire)

Dennis Troha, a Wisconsin businessman who pleaded guilty last month to giving illegal contributions to both the Democratic Party and to President Bush’s campaign, is not off the hook yet. The local U.S. Attorney (remember Steve Biskupic?) is still looking into legislation that benefited Mr. Troha’s previous company; Troha had given numerous donations to the three sponsoring lawmakers. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Free things don’t come cheap. That’s the consensus of a new study that suggests obtaining information through the Freedom of Information Act is an extremely slow and tortuous process. How slow? One requester has been waiting twenty years. (Associated Press)

Via Scott Horton, the events surrounding ex-Governor Siegeleman (D-AR) continue to grow murky. It wouldn’t be a scandal if Jack Abramoff wasn’t somehow involved. (Harper’s)