Wolfowitz Dictated Girlfriend’s Pay Deal
“World Bank President Paul D. Wolfowitz personally dictated the terms under which the bank gave what it called his “domestic partner” substantial pay raises and promotions in exchange for temporarily leaving her job there during his tenure, according to documents released by the bank’s executive board yesterday. The board issued a statement saying it will ‘move expeditiously to reach a conclusion on possible actions to take,’ amid rising speculation over whether the embattled Wolfowitz will resign or be asked to step down.” (Washington Post)
Rove, Others Were Warned to Save Emails
“Karl Rove and other White House employees were cautioned in employee manuals, memos and briefings to carefully save any e-mails that might discuss official matters even if those messages came from private e-mail accounts, the White House disclosed Friday. Despite these cautions, e-mails from Rove and others discussing official business may have been deleted and are now missing.” (LA Times)
White House-Senate to Work on Emails
“The White House said Saturday it is agreeing to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s request for how to choose someone to help recover some lost e-mails involving official presidential business. The White House acknowledged last week that aides to President Bush improperly have used e-mail accounts created by the Republican Party to conduct official White House business, and that an undetermined number of these e-mails has been lost.” (Associated Press)
Durbin, Feinstein Slam EAC Over Voting Studies
“Senate oversight and appropriations panels last week demanded that the Election Assistance Commission respond to allegations that the agency hid its findings in two highly controversial voting studies. Last week, Roll Call reported that some EAC critics were crying foul over the agencyâs decision to delay releasing a study suggesting so-called motor voter laws may cause a disproportionate drop-off in voting by blacks and Hispanics.” (Roll Call)
Judge Hears White Voting Rights Case
“A federal judge is expected to rule soon on a lawsuit by the Justice Department seeking an end to “relentless voting-related discrimination” by political leaders in a rural Mississippi county — the first suit brought under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 accusing blacks of suppressing the rights of whites. Senior U.S. District Judge Tom S. Lee in Jackson, Miss., heard arguments in the case in January, without a jury, and gave attorneys for the government and the county until last week to file final briefs.” (Washington Times)
Arrested in ’02, Dirty Bomb Suspect Padilla to Be Tried
“Cast as a murderous Al Qaeda warrior when arrested five years ago, Jose Padilla goes on trial this week on downsized charges of conspiracy to commit terrorism. After holding Padilla in solitary confinement in a South Carolina military brig for 3 1/2 years, deprived for months of human contact and subjected to sensory-distorting extremes of light, temperature, noise and odor, the Bush administration dropped its contention that the U.S.-born suspect figured in any specific bomb plot.” (LA Times)
Libby to Appeal Conviction in Leak Case
“Former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby said Friday he no longer plans to ask for a new trial in the
CIA leak case but still expects to appeal his conviction. In documents filed in federal court Friday, Libby’s lawyers said they will mount their arguments before an appeals court rather than asking for a new trial as they had planned.” (Associated Press)
Cheney Hasn’t Called Libby Since Trial
“In the nearly six weeks since his close friend and former chief of staff was convicted of lying and obstructing an investigation, Vice President Dick Cheney has not once spoken to I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby. Why? ‘Well, there hasn’t been occasion to do so,’ Cheney said in an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS’ ‘Face the Nation.'” (Associated Press)
Wilke’s Home to Go on Auction Block
“The woes of troubled defense contractor Brent Wilkes continued to mount this week with the announcement that his home in a gated Poway community was going on the auction block. The announcement follows his February indictment for alleged acts of corruption connected to the bribery scandal involving former U.S. Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham.” (North County Times)
Administration Seeks to Expand Surveillance Law
“The Bush administration yesterday asked Congress to make more non-citizens subject to intelligence surveillance and to authorize the interception of foreign communications routed through the United States. The White House proposes expanding potential targets to include non-citizens believed to possess, transmit or receive important foreign intelligence information, as well as those engaged in the United States in activities related to the purchase or development of weapons of mass destruction.” (Washington Post)
Campaign Donor’s Cash Arrived with Baggage
“On a sun-dappled October afternoon, Ray Jinnah stood beside his Bel-Air swimming pool to address 60 guests gathered for his latest fundraiser, a 2004 affair for New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. At about the same time, the Justice Department began investigating allegations that Jinnah’s fundraising on behalf of Clinton and others was illegal. He would later be charged with violating federal law by reimbursing employees and associates for contributions made in their names to Clinton’s HillPac and the Friends of Barbara Boxer campaign.” (LA Times)
