Lieberman Punts on Katrina Oversight
Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is about to get a little lonelier. Lieberman “has quietly backed away from his pre-election demands that the White House turn over potentially embarrassing documents relating to its handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster in New Orleans.” During his campaign last year, Lieberman had vocally criticized Bush’s handling of Katrina, and had complained about the administration’s failure to turn over related documents. (Newsweek)
No More Active-Duty Time Limits for Guardsmen and Reservists
Pentagon officials said yesterday that the Defense Dept. “has abandoned its limit on the time a citizen-soldier can be required to serve on active duty.” Previously, regulations prohibited the Pentagon from deploying a member of the Guard or Reserve for more than 24 months of cumulative active-duty time in Iraq or Afghanistan; the only remaining limit is that no single mobilization can exceed 24 consecutive months. (AP)
Hiring Freeze Hits Justice Dept.
Thanks to Congress’ failure to approve the Justice Department’s 2007 spending request, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have instituted hiring freezes, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has slowed its recruiting and hiring efforts. (AP)
Milan Prosecutor Wants to Indict 31 Agents on Kidnapping Charges
Despite the opposition of the U.S. and his own government, Milan prosecutor Armando Spataro wants to proceed with the indictments of 26 U.S. agents and five Italian secrets agents responsible for the kidnapping of a terror suspect. The Egyptian imam Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr was abducted by a CIA team in February 2003 and eventually was transferred via Germany to an Egyptian jail, where he claims he was tortured during weeks of interrogation. (Der Spiegel)
Libby Trial May Expose Cheney
The trial of I. Lewis Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney who is charged with perjury and obstruction in connection with the Valerie Plame leak, could prove damaging for the Veep. The defense plans on calling Cheney to testify, and his testimony may “[expose] the vice president to probes by Congress of how the Bush administration promoted the war.” (Bloomberg)
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Florida E-Voting Case
The U.S. Supreme Court declined last Monday to consider whether Florida’s touch-screen voting system should be bolstered with a paper trail. Rep. Robert Wexler’s (D-FL) 2004 lawsuit argued that the state’s system — in which “some counties use machines that don’t allow for a recount. . . while other counties have machines that do” — disenfranchised voters. Wexler had appealed a Florida circuit court’s ruling that touch-screen machines don’t need to use a paper trail. (Orlando Sentinel)
Reid Delays Earmark Vote
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) delayed a final vote on earmark reform legislation after failing to kill the measure. The law, which has already passed the House, has stronger language than the proposal favored by Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). (AP)
Concerns About Pharma Lobby Preempted Drug Reform
Prior to taking control of the House, the Democratic leadership had “briefly considered proposing a new government-run prescription drug program as a way to reduce seniors’ drug costs.” Concerned that the drug lobby would effectively stall the measure, it was scaled back to a “far less ambitious plan” to require the government to negotiate lower Medicare drug prices — legislation Bush says he will veto. (Washington Post)
Administration Prepares for Al-Qaeda Detainee Trials
The Bush administration is set to begin war crime proceedings against high-ranking Al-Qaeda detainees, including alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. (New York Times)
18 Years for Soldier Who Killed Three Detainees
Spc. William B. Hunsaker, a 24-year-old soldier, was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to “killing three detainees during a raid on a suspected al-Qaida compound last year in Iraq.” (AP)
