The Daily MuckSupporters of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-CA) are pushing for a presidential pardon for Cunningham’s tax evasion and conspiracy convictions. Cunningham, who is serving an eight year and four month sentence, has asked for his sentence to be commuted and the Department of Justice has received eight letters from supporters urging for a pardon. (UPI)
Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Saturday that the recently convicted Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) would face expulsion proceedings in the Senate. Stevens, in a contentious re-election campaign, is battling to stay in the Senate as is. He’s going on air Monday night in Alaska with a two minute ad to win voter support despite the conviction. (Roll Call/The Hill)
Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick may have more trouble coming his way. Kilpatrick’s records from his nonprofit foundation have been subpoenaed by federal officials and government prosecutors are asking Kilpatrick’s defense lawyers about how they were paid. Kilpatrick is currently serving a 120 day sentence for perjury and obstruction of justice charges. (UPI)
The former juror in Sen. Ted Stevens’ (R-AK) federal corruption trial who was replaced after her father died has been ordered to court. The juror is being asked to answer questions about why she dropped off the radar and did not respond to phone calls from court officials. (Washington Post)
Osama bin Laden’s media secretary was found guilty by a military tribunal in a verdict announced today. Ali Hamza al Bahlul is the second man to be convicted by a Guantanamo Bay jury, and faces life in prison. (Reuters)
Two former Alaska state legislators called on John McCain Friday to apologize for his roll in the Trooper-Gate scandal. The legislators, a House Republican and a Senate Democrat, scolded the McCain campaign for trying to quash the investigation and for deriding the former Public Safety Commissioner at the center of the scandal, Walt Monegan. (Anchorage Daily News)
In other Duke Cunningham news, a brief from a federal judge was recently unsealed revealing criticism of the government in the former representative’s case. The brief accused the prosecutors of “mischaracterizing substantial, relevant portions” of the case. It also revealed that related convict Long Island financier Thomas Kontogiannis had been cooperating with Justice Department lawyers in New York. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
The director of operations for military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Brig. Gen Thomas Hartmann, has filed his resignation from the post. Hartmann has been accused of favoring the prosecution during the trials and being both abusive and bullying towards subordinates — behavior that the Defense Department is investigating. (The Miami Herald)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown met Sunday in Saudi Arabia with former Guantanamo Bay detainees. Brown is currently touring the Gulf states in an effort to extend funding for the International Monetary Fund. (AFP)
