House leaders voiced their support for the Constitution’s “speech or debate clause” — a provision designed to protect members of congress from being arrested for their legislative activities — in a brief filed Monday in the case of outgoing Arizona GOP Rep. Rick Renzi. Renzi, who is accused of conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering, says the government collected evidence against him using an illegal wiretap order that taped conversations between him, aides, and other members of congress. He is one of a string of legislators, including Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson and Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, to use this as defense. (CQ Politics)
Officials at the Office of Tax Revenue said that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) incorrectly received a tax break on his DC home and could owe the government back revenue. The rule is designed for people who make DC their principle home, but Rangel has said his primary residence is in New York. The irregularity could complicate the House Ethics Committee investigation of allegations that the congressman received a rent break on his New York apartments. (Washington Post)
A House committee will investigate the investigation of Eliot Spitzer’s post-Valentine’s Day tryst with a call girl, amid speculation that the case was politically motivated and designed as revenge for Spitzer’s aggressive prosecution of Wall Street executives. Meanwhile, a judge sentenced Ashley Dupre’s booking agent to one year’s probation. (AP)
Edward Liddy, the government-appointed CEO of mortgage firm American International Group, will take home $1 this year while the company’s seven top executives will forgo bonuses, moves designed to mute critics of AIG’s profligate spending patterns. The company, which has received $150 billion in federal money, faced a public relations fiasco earlier this fall when reports circulated of lavish executive retreats. The company says it has since canceled over 160 events. In 2006, as CEO of Allstate Corp., Liddy made $24 million. (Wall Street Journal)
The trial of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), accused of corruption related business deals with Nigeria, has been delayed indefinitely. It had been scheduled to start Dec. 2, but will likely occur sometime next year. No date has been set yet. (Times Picayune)
New York politicians have called for an outside review of the impact of natural gas drilling techniques on the state’s water supplies. (ProPublica)
TPMMuckraker regular Rep. Don Young (R-AK), re-elected this November despite a federal corruption investigation, has been stripped of his spot on the GOP Steering Committee, which determines committee assignments. The decision was made public in a letter circulated by GOP leaders. (National Review)
