The Texas Ethics Commission will hold a public hearing today to review the case of state Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht. Hecht, a Republican, is accused of receiving discounted rates in 2006 from the law firm Jackson Walker when he used the company to defend him before the Commission on Judicial Conduct for promoting the Harriet Miers nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court. Texas judges are forbidden from making public political endorsements. (Houston Chronicle)
Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, a Republican, was charged Wednesday with mismanaging a college savings fund when he was state treasurer.” Krolicki, who has said he will challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010, says the indictment is politically motivated. (USAToday)
Sixteen Indiana National Guardsmen sued defense contractor KBR Inc., a former Halliburton subsidiary, Wednesday for knowingly exposing its employees to toxic chemicals. Some of the plaintiffs now have health problems related to the exposure. This is not the first time the Houston-based company’s treatment of employees has come to public attention. McClatchy reported Wednesday that a KBR subcontractor appears to be violating U.S. guidelines on human trafficking, living conditions, and pay in its treatment of 1000 Asian men it employs in Iraq. (AP)
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who came under fire during the presidential campaign for accepting free trips, filed disclosure forms Wednesday. The trips took place in 2007. According to Alaska law, reports must be filed within 30 days of the trip. The disclosure form says that the delay was “not … due to administrative error.” A spokesman attributed it to staff oversight. (AP)
Will President Bush issue blanket, pre-emptive pardons for people who helped the administration’s counterterrorism efforts? Attorney General Michael Mukasey said there was no need Wednesday, the first time he has directly addressed the pardon proposal. There has been speculation that the Obama administration might attempt to prosecute officials involved in activities like torture. The president-elect has said prosecution of Bush officials is unlikely. (New York Times)
The U.S. House of Representatives has officially registered its support for U.S. Rep Rick Renzi (R-AZ), filing a friend of court brief that argues that the wiretap used to collect evidence against the congressman was unconstitutional. Renzi, whose charges include conspiracy and extortion related to a land swap scheme and an insurance scam, has claimed that the wiretap violated the “speech or debate” clause, which protects lawmakers from having legislative activities used against them in court. (AP)
