Report: Berger Hid Archive Documents
“On the evening of Oct. 2, 2003, former White House national security adviser Samuel R. “Sandy” Berger stashed highly classified documents he had taken from the National Archives beneath a construction trailer at Ninth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW so that he could surreptitiously retrieve them later and take them to his office, according to a newly disclosed government investigation.
“The documents he took detailed how the Clinton administration had responded to the threat of terrorist attacks at the end of 1999. Berger removed five copies of the same document without authorization and later used scissors to destroy three before placing them in his office trash, the National Archives inspector general wrote in a Nov. 4, 2005, report.
“After Archives officials confronted him and accused him of taking the documents, Berger told investigators he “tried to find the trash collector but had no luck.” But instead of admitting he had removed them deliberately, Berger initially said he had removed them by mistake.
“An Archives official claimed to have seen Berger fiddling with what appeared to be a piece of paper “rolled around his ankle and underneath his pant leg,” but Berger told investigators he was pulling up his socks, which Berger said “frequently fall down.” (WaPo, NYT, AP)
Joe Wilson Challenges Libby Case Supboena
“Former ambassador Joseph Wilson asked a federal judge Wednesday not to force him to testify in the CIA leak case and accused former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby of trying to harass him on the witness stand.
“Libby, who faces perjury and obstruction charges, subpoenaed Wilson as a defense witness this month. Libby’s attorney, William Jeffress, said in court Tuesday that was a precautionary move and he did not expect to put Wilson on the stand.” (AP)
Federal Subsidies Turn Farms Into Big Business
“The cornerstone of the multibillion-dollar system of federal farm subsidies is an iconic image of the struggling family farmer: small, powerless against Mother Nature, tied to the land by blood….
“The very policies touted by Congress as a way to save small family farms are instead helping to accelerate their demise, economists, analysts and farmers say. That’s because owners of large farms receive the largest share of government subsidies. They often use the money to acquire more land, pushing aside small and medium-size farms as well as young farmers starting out.” (WaPo)
Leahy To Inquire On Arar Case
“A powerful U.S. Democrat says Maher Arar has the right to now why he is still on an American watch list and barred from entering the United States.
“Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, the incoming chair of a Senate judiciary committee, told the Toronto Star newspaper that he plans on summoning U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before American legislators to demand answers.
“Canadian authorities have taken responsibility for their part in Arar’s 2002 rendition to Syria, Leahy said, adding that it’s now the Bush administration’s turn to redress the wrong.” (CTV)
Pentagon Asks For More War Funding
“The Pentagon wants the White House to seek an additional $99.7 billion to fund the wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan, according to information provided to The Associated Press.
“The military’s request, if embraced by President Bush and approved by Congress, would boost this year’s budget for those wars to about $170 billion.” (AP)
Charges Imminent for Pendleton Marines
“As many as eight Marines could be charged in the biggest U.S. criminal case to emerge from the war in Iraq in terms of people killed.
“Camp Pendleton officials scheduled a briefing Thursday to announce charges in the shooting deaths of 24 civilians on Nov. 19, 2005, in the Iraqi town of Haditha.” (AP)
The Hammer Strikes a Comeback Blow
“He was known for years as the Hammer, but Tom DeLay now prefers a new title. The Blogger.
“Six months after Mr. DeLay resigned from the House in the wake of a lobbying scandal, one month after the nationâs voters seemed to dismantle what was left of his political machine on Capitol Hill, he has begun his comeback. Part of it can be found in the blogosphere.” (NYT)
Congress Closes with a Pork-Filled Flourish
“There have been more outrageous end-of-session bills, but following this election â when corruption and fiscal incompetence were campaign themes â some lawmakers found the latest package particularly offensive.
“Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) termed the legislative spectacle ’embarrassing.’ He offered a scathing review of the final bill on the Senate floor, citing its myriad earmarks and other expenditures that had never been reviewed by a congressional committee or subjected to debate.” (LAT)
EPA Relaxes Toxin Reporting
“The rule change has cheered small-business groups, generated widespread public opposition, and caught the eye of some Democratic congressmen, who will take control of Congress next month. It takes effect immediately.
“The change affects companies that release relatively small amounts of toxic materials but still have to report them to the federal Toxics Release Inventory.” (Christian Science Monitor)
Jennings Files Contest Of Race With House Clerk
“The state has declared that Democrat Christine Jennings lost to Republican Vern Buchanan by 369 votes. But 18,000 Sarasota County electronic ballots did not record a choice in the race, and Jennings contends that the number is abnormally high and that the machines lost the votes.
“She filed with the House clerk an official contest of the election results in Florida’s 13th Congressional District.” (AP)
Paper Jams a Problem for Electronic Voting
“The paper ballots and hanging chads that marred the 2000 presidential election have almost vanished from polling places, replaced by electronic-voting machines that are supposed to eliminate recount chaos.
But now election directors have a new worry: printer jams.” (AP)
State-Level Lobbying Expanding
“State lobbyists and the companies that hire them spent a record of more than $1 billion in 2005 to influence state lawmakers and officials, the Center for Public Integrity has found.” (Center For Public Integrity)
Joe Bruno Under Investigation
“The majority leader of the New York state Senate announced that the FBI is investigating him and his private consulting business.
“Joseph Bruno, who will be the state’s top Republican in January, said Tuesday he was told by the FBI in late spring that he was being investigated. The 77-year-old lawmaker said he doesn’t know exactly what investigators are looking for, but he has cooperated.” (AP)
